As Congo grapples with Ebola, volunteers cook meals to support patients
In eastern Congo, volunteers like Arlette Basekawike are providing meals to Ebola patients and healthcare workers amid the Bundibugyo virus outbreak, now with 321 cases and 48 deaths across three provinces, while food insecurity and conflict worsen response efforts. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, while aid disruptions and border closures risk spreading the virus further.
In Bunia, Congo, volunteers are cooking meals for Ebola patients and healthcare workers battling the rare Bundibugyo virus outbreak. Arlette Basekawike, a United Nations food agency volunteer, prepares porridge, omelets, and local dishes like fufu and fish for patients at the Evangelical Medical Center, where 321 cases and 48 deaths have been confirmed since May. She emphasizes that proper nutrition helps patients recover and gives doctors the energy to treat them. The outbreak spans Congo’s eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, with Uganda reporting nine cases and one death, prompting border closures. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) warns that shutting borders may push movement underground, increasing transmission risks. Ugochi Daniels, IOM deputy director general, stresses that viruses do not respect borders, urging stronger cross-border cooperation. Before the outbreak, the region faced severe food crises due to conflict displacing millions. Olivier Nkakudulu, head of the World Food Program (WFP) in Ituri, calls Ebola an ‘additional crisis on top of a crisis,’ while U.S. aid cuts disrupt operations. Esther Bao, a nurse volunteer, notes that patients’ nutritional needs are critical, with over 400 meals served since May 28. However, funding shortages may force prioritization, leaving some suspected cases without food. Attacks on health workers and slow aid delivery due to conflict further complicate efforts. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, but responders struggle to contain the virus amid these challenges. Five patients have recovered, offering rare optimism as the outbreak spreads.
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