The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has activated its highest level of emergency response to address the rapidly evolving Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda, according to a press release. The outbreak is unfolding in communities already facing insecurity, displacement and fragile healthcare systems. Red Cross volunteers are moving door to door in the key hotspots of Mongbwalu, Bunia and Rwampara. They are sharing information on prevention and when to seek care. The IFRC has also activated regional and global emergency surge deployment mechanisms.
Teams from the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Uganda Red Cross are providing life-saving information and Safe and Dignified Burials. Safe and dignified burial teams are being trained and mobilized in affected areas. Critical supplies, including Safe and Dignified Burial kits and Personal Protective Equipment, have been dispatched from Kinshasa and Dubai. The IFRC has deployed specialized public health teams and experts to the affected areas. Coordination mechanisms have been activated between IFRC teams in Kinshasa, Kampala, Nairobi and Geneva.
The DRC Red Cross, supported by IFRC, is at the center of the response, working alongside health authorities and partners. Volunteers serve as a bridge between health teams and communities, where outbreaks can escalate quickly if cases are not identified early. On the streets of Bunia, volunteers share information on how to detect and prevent the spread of Ebola. Delphin Chanumula, community engagement coordinator for the DRC Red Cross, has observed hopeful signs in communities that once resisted safe and dignified burials. Community reactions, however, remain mixed, with some still expressing suspicion and misinformation.
Gabriela Arenas, Regional Operations Coordinator for IFRC Africa Region, emphasized the role of trust in containment. “During an Ebola outbreak, trust and community acceptance can mean the difference between containment and wider transmission,” she said. On 1 June 2026, volunteers carrying out a safe and dignified burial operation in Bunia were injured in a violent incident while performing their humanitarian duties. The IFRC stated that attacks against volunteers endanger lives and undermine efforts to contain the outbreak. Misinformation and rumors continue to fuel fear and increase risks for communities and humanitarian workers.
As the outbreak has spilled over to Uganda, with risk in neighboring countries, the epidemic has taken on a regional scale. The Uganda Red Cross is supporting readiness efforts alongside national authorities in border areas. The IFRC Emergency Appeal for 29 million Swiss Francs will help scale up community engagement, surveillance, safe and dignified burials, infection prevention, and cross-border coordination. Laura Archer, IFRC Lead on Clinical Care and Public Health in Emergencies, stressed that the response depends on communities themselves. The IFRC affirmed that the outbreak can still be contained, but the window for action is narrow.
