Mysterious Deaths Hit DR Congo IDPs Camp as Ebola Fears Mount

A public health crisis is unfolding in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) after at least 30 people died at a camp for internally displaced persons, raising fears that Ebola may be spreading among vulnerable residents.

The deaths have been recorded since early May at the Kigonze displacement camp in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, where thousands of people displaced by years of conflict are currently sheltering.

Health officials and humanitarian organisations have expressed growing concern over the situation, particularly because several of the victims reportedly displayed symptoms commonly associated with Ebola, including high fever, severe headaches and persistent vomiting before their deaths.

Authorities said the number of fatalities recorded within the camp is unusually high and has sparked fears of a wider outbreak if urgent intervention measures are not implemented.

A representative of the camp, Désiré Grodya Bapi, described the situation as unprecedented, noting that residents had never witnessed such a high number of deaths within a short period.

“People were not dying like this before. This is something we have never experienced,” he said.

The Kigonze camp accommodates more than 15,000 displaced persons who fled violence in different parts of eastern Congo. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate access to healthcare and limited clean water supplies have increased the risk of disease outbreaks.

Medical teams deployed to the area are working to determine the exact cause of the deaths, but investigations have encountered significant challenges.

Aid workers disclosed that some residents have resisted health interventions and refused to allow medical personnel to examine or test bodies before burial, making it difficult to confirm whether Ebola or another infectious disease is responsible for the fatalities.

The reluctance has complicated efforts to track possible infections and implement disease-control measures within the camp.

Health authorities are continuing surveillance activities while urging residents to cooperate with medical teams to prevent further loss of life.

The latest development comes as eastern DR Congo continues to battle multiple humanitarian challenges, including armed conflict, displacement and recurring outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Humanitarian organisations have called for increased support to strengthen healthcare services in the region and improve living conditions in displacement camps, warning that failure to act swiftly could worsen the health emergency and place thousands more people at risk.

Officials say investigations remain ongoing as efforts intensify to identify the cause of the deaths and contain any potential outbreak.