ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has condemned a deadly attack on civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
"The attack comes at a critical moment in the response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak. Health facilities have been attacked and patients, including hundreds of people with confirmed or suspected Ebola infection, have fled in search of safety, raising serious public health concerns," the Africa CDC said in a press statement issued late Sunday.
The attack was reportedly carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces overnight from Thursday into Friday in Cantine-Aloya, a locality in Beni territory of the North Kivu Province, the statement said.
The Africa CDC emphasized the critical need to ensure a "corridor of peace, protection of civilians, patients, health workers and health facilities, as well as safe and sustained access to affected communities."
The African Union's specialized continental public health agency urged all parties to the conflict in the eastern part of the DRC to respect the protection afforded to healthcare under international humanitarian law.
"In an Ebola outbreak, every interruption to patient care, contact tracing, and disease surveillance creates additional risks for communities already facing extraordinary hardship," the agency said.
"People must be able to seek treatment safely, and health workers must be able to deliver essential services without fear of violence. The safety of communities and the continuity of life-saving health services must be safeguarded," it added.
The Africa CDC extended its condolences to the victims' families and its solidarity with the injured, displaced, and affected communities.
The agency further reiterated its continued solidarity with the people of the DRC, working in coordination with national authorities and partners to support the Ebola response, strengthen disease surveillance, and protect communities.
The DRC remains the epicenter of the ongoing multi-country Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. Since the Central African country declared the outbreak on May 15, the virus has expanded from just three health zones to 67 health zones across eight provinces. The country has recorded a total of 10,668 confirmed cases and 5,198 deaths, according to the latest data from the Africa CDC. ■
