Attacks on Ebola health facilities have intensified in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the World Health Organization warns of a potential worsening of the outbreak in the DRC and neighboring Uganda. These incidents highlight a growing conflict between established medical protocols and local customs regarding the handling of deceased individuals.

Recent events underscore the escalating tensions. On Thursday, a group of angry residents stormed the Rwampara health centre, demanding the release of bodies of relatives who had died from Ebola. This incident was confirmed by local sources and partners involved in the government's response. The following day, a tent used by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) at a hospital in Mongbwalu, Ituri province, was set ablaze.

Doctors Without Borders, also known by its acronym MSF, stated that the tent fire occurred after healthcare staff isolated the body of a patient exhibiting Ebola symptoms for preparation for burial. While the body was being prepared, tensions escalated, leading to the burning of two tents. Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) confirmed the incident, noting that their teams were able to secure the body for a safe and dignified burial in accordance with Ebola response standards.

Health workers in the affected regions of eastern DRC have frequently encountered resistance from communities regarding strict burial protocols. These protocols are essential for preventing further transmission of the virus, as bodies of Ebola victims are highly contagious. Aid agencies attribute these tensions to a combination of fear, misinformation, and mistrust directed at medical teams.

"Some people here believe that Ebola is a business," stated Gloire Idriss, a resident of Rwampara who witnessed the confrontation. "When healthcare providers refuse to hand over the bodies of those who have died from Ebola, people think they might be trafficking their organs," he added, reflecting a deep-seated suspicion.

The Congolese health minister, Roger Kamba, has emphasized the contagious nature of Ebola victims' bodies, stressing that only trained teams equipped with protective gear can handle them. "Let us bury the deceased safely," Kamba urged. "The dead must not take others with them into the grave," he said, highlighting the public health imperative.

In eastern DRC, traditional practices often involve relatives and neighbors gathering at the deceased's home to pay respects, with some touching the body as a final farewell. This deeply ingrained cultural practice clashes directly with the safety measures required during an Ebola outbreak. "When my daughter died of Ebola last month, the medical team came to bury her. We didn’t get to say our final goodbyes. It still upsets me that I had to watch her funeral helplessly without our cultural rites," shared Lokana Jean, a local resident, illustrating the emotional toll of these conflicting practices.

These attacks and the underlying mistrust pose a significant challenge to containing the Ebola outbreak. Without community cooperation and adherence to safe burial practices, efforts to control the spread of the virus are severely hampered, increasing the risk of further transmission within the DRC and potentially to neighboring countries like Uganda.