5,000 enter South Sudan from DRC amid Ebola fears
The UN reports over 5,000 people have crossed into Western Equatoria state fleeing an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
More than 5,000 people have entered South Sudan's Ibba County in Western Equatoria state from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between July and mid-October. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that nearly 380 arrivals are Congolese nationals, with the rest being South Sudanese returning home. The arrivals are reportedly fleeing an Ebola outbreak in the neighbouring DRC.
During a recent visit to Nabanga Payam, OCHA and partners identified urgent needs for medicines, food, and hygiene kits for women and girls among the new arrivals. Agencies also called for an operational Ebola isolation centre at the Nabanga border crossing to improve screening and disease surveillance. The UN warned that continued Ebola transmission in the DRC poses a risk of the disease spreading into South Sudan.
South Sudan’s Ministry of Health, National Public Health Institute, and UN partners recently conducted a simulation exercise in Juba, Yei, and Yambio counties to test the country's preparedness for suspected Ebola cases. Separately, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) expressed concern over escalating violence in Warrap state, where clashes on October 26 left 72 dead and 38 wounded.
Why it mattersOver 5,000 people have entered South Sudan from the DRC, requiring humanitarian aid and raising concerns about disease spread.