Residents in the town of Rwampara in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) set fire to a treatment facility, after being prevented from taking the body of a local man, believed to have died from Ebola.
Health workers in Ituri, the epicentre of the recent Ebola outbreak in the DRC, have been struggling to contain the disease due to lack of medical facilities, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis driven by armed conflict, political instability, and resource exploitation.
According to witnessess, a group of young men stormed the centre after authorities denied permission to release the body of a friend, believed to have died from the deadly virus. The group subsequently set fire to parts of the facility.
Alexis Burata, a student who was nearby, told the Associated Press, “The police intervened to try to calm the situation, but unfortunately they were unsuccessful. The young people ended up setting fire to the centre.”
A reporter from the outlet saw people storm into the building and set fire to the items inside, along with what appeared to be the body of a suspected Ebola victim that was being stored. Witnesses saw aid workers fleeing the centre in vehicles.
Authorities believe the incident highlights an imbalance between public health measures and local customs around death and burial.
Due to the highly infectious nature of the bodies of Ebola victims, domestic officials and international health agencies insist on burials conducted by specialised teams wearing protective gear. This is in contrast to traditional funeral practices, which involves washing and touching the body and a large crowd of mourners. Authorities currently advise against these practices as they are considered to be high risk for transmission.
Deputy Senior Commissioner Jean Claude Mukendi said, “His family, friends, and other young people wanted to take his body home for a funeral even though the instructions from the authorities during this Ebola virus outbreak are clear. All bodies must be buried according to the regulations.”
Hama Amadou, field coordinator for the medical non-profit ALIMA, said peace was restored and that aid workers had resumed operations.
