Dire Sanitation Fuels Ebola in Congo's Displaced Camps

The Ebola virus is spreading alarmingly within displacement camps in Ituri province, Congo, where over a million individuals reside amidst dire sanitary conditions. The crisis is exacerbated by a severe lack of water and sanitation, rendering efforts to contain the highly infectious disease exceedingly difficult. Residents, having fled armed conflict, face limited nutrition and are vulnerable to the virus.

This humanitarian crisis is compounded by recent foreign aid cuts to sanitation facilities, including toilets and hand-washing stations, which were reduced by more than half between 2024 and 2025. Consequently, camps housing tens of thousands often have only a handful of communal water stations and overflowing latrines. This lack of hygiene infrastructure severely hinders the ability to practice essential preventative measures like handwashing.

Congo's Health Ministry has recorded 2,423 confirmed Ebola cases and 967 deaths as of this week, though actual numbers may be significantly higher. More than 80 percent of new cases are occurring outside known contact lists, particularly in communities lacking access to health facilities. Strikes by unpaid health workers and attacks on treatment centers further complicate response efforts.