The head of the World Health Organization has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help tackle the Ebola outbreak.
In an open letter posted on X, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pledged to spare no effort to help contain the deadly outbreak, with the number of suspected Ebola cases in eastern Congo nearing 1,000 and at least 220 suspected deaths.
Ghebreyesus told the country that the WHO is “working closely with all relevant partners to ensure that the response can reach every community that needs it, and that no one is left behind because of where they live or what is happening around them.”
The director-general of the WHO, who is headed to Congo on Thursday, noted that the security situation in eastern Congo remains very difficult.
“Conflict and displacement make everything harder, including reaching people who need care and keeping health workers safe. I want to be honest: this is one of our greatest challenges,” he wrote. “We cannot do this work if those who are trying to help are prevented from doing so or put in danger.”
The WHO head said that is why he is making a direct appeal to all warring parties in the Ituri region.
“Please, declare a ceasefire. Even briefly. Even just enough to let health workers through. People are dying from Ebola who do not have to die. Children are sick. Families are suffering. No cause, no conflict, no grievance is worth condemning innocent people to death from a preventable disease,” Ghebreyesus wrote.
“A ceasefire, even a temporary one, would save lives. I urge you, I implore you: give us the space to help the people who need it most.”
Ghebreyesus said he is aware of anger and mistrust in some communities.
“I need to be honest with you about something important. Most previous Ebola outbreaks in DRC were caused by a virus called Ebola Zaire, for which we have vaccines and treatments,” he continued. “This outbreak is caused by a different virus called Ebola Bundibugyo. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for it.”
Ghebreyesus said that the situation is “serious” and the people of the DRC “deserve to hear that plainly.”
“But I also want you to know this: while there are no specific treatments for Bundibugyo, there is much we can do together to prevent the spread of this virus and save lives. Early supportive care in our treatment centers can make a real difference. If you or someone you know falls ill, please do not wait,” he added.
Ghebreyesus told the country that he is “someone who knows your region, who has walked your streets, and who cares deeply about what happens to you and your families.”
“I want you to know that you are not alone. Ebola is not new to me personally. From 2018 to 2020, I came fourteen times to North Kivu, the epicentre of the outbreak at that time,” he wrote on Thursday.
Ghebreyesus said that he was “alongside families who had lost their loved ones.”
“I met health workers risking their lives every day. I met community leaders, traditional healers, religious leaders and business leaders who refused to abandon their people,” he continued. “I saw men and women show extraordinary courage in the most difficult of circumstances. The people there, who saw me coming back again and again, wanted to give me a name that belonged to their community.”
The Ebola outbreak from 2018 to 2020 was “one of the most complex in history,” according to Ghebreyesus.
“It did not unfold in a stable, peaceful environment. It happened in the middle of armed conflict, with communities displaced, supply routes disrupted, and health workers operating under constant threat,” he wrote.
The WHO head said that this time the Ebola outbreak is hitting the Ituri province the hardest.
“More than 90% of all cases have been reported in Ituri province, with a small number of cases also reported in North Kivu and South Kivu. I know how frightening that is, and I know that the people of Ituri are bearing a burden that is not easy to carry,” he said.
“I know that many of you are exhausted. You are already carrying so much: malaria, hunger, insecurity, and the daily struggle to keep your families safe. And now Ebola. It is not fair, and I will not pretend otherwise.”
Ghebreyesus told the people of Ituri that they have a “vital role to play” in the current outbreak.
“Talk to your friends and your families. Share what you know about Ebola. Help break the fear and the silence that allows this virus to spread. Your voice carries further than you know, and we need it now more than ever,” he wrote.
Ghebreyesus also told the health workers of Ituri that they are not alone.