The United Nations has warned that worsening insecurity in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is severely hampering humanitarian operations, including efforts to contain an ongoing Ebola outbreak that has now spread across five provinces. The alert was issued on Wednesday, 23 July by UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric at a daily press briefing.

Violence Displaces Civilians, Cuts Humanitarian Access

According to local civil society organisations cited by Dujarric, at least 30 people were killed and a dozen others injured in a series of attacks in Beni territory, North Kivu, between 13 and 19 July. The violence has displaced civilians and severely restricted humanitarian access in the affected areas.

At least six humanitarian organisations — including partners directly supporting the Ebola response — have suspended movements to several localities in Beni territory, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The suspension marks a critical setback at a moment when containment efforts require uninterrupted field presence.

Scale of the Ebola Outbreak

As of 20 July, national health authorities in the DRC had recorded 2,473 confirmed Ebola cases across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo. The outbreak was formally declared on 15 May and is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain.

Notably, this strain — distinct from the more commonly known Zaire ebolavirus — has a historically lower case fatality rate but remains highly dangerous and difficult to contain in conflict-affected terrain. The current outbreak has spread rapidly, with population movements, artisanal mining activity, and cross-border exchanges with Uganda and South Sudan identified as key transmission drivers.

What the UN Is Doing

The UN and its humanitarian partners are continuing to support DRC authorities in scaling up surveillance, laboratory testing, treatment, and community engagement across all affected provinces. However, the security constraints are limiting the pace and reach of these activities.

Dujarric reiterated the UN's call on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access. 'The safety of all health workers and humanitarian personnel remains essential to containing the outbreak and delivering assistance to everyone in need,' he said.

Why This Matters Beyond the DRC

The convergence of armed conflict and an active Ebola outbreak in a region with active cross-border movement is a scenario global health authorities have long flagged as among the most difficult to manage. The presence of transmission corridors into Uganda and South Sudan raises the prospect of regional spread. This is not the DRC's first Ebola crisis in North Kivu — the 2018–2020 outbreak in the same province became the second-largest in history, partly because insecurity blocked responders. The current situation carries echoes of that episode.

What Happens Next

Containment will depend heavily on whether armed groups allow humanitarian and health workers to operate safely in Beni territory. The UN's appeal for civilian protection is directed at all parties to the conflict. Until access is restored, surveillance gaps will continue to create blind spots in the outbreak map, making projections on case counts unreliable. All eyes are now on whether a negotiated humanitarian corridor can be established in the coming days.