Red Cross societies condemn attacks on volunteers in DR Congo amid Ebola response

What the report says

Red Cross and Red Crescent societies have condemned a series of attacks on volunteers in the Democratic Republic of Congo as they work alongside health authorities during the Ebola response. According to Anadolu Agency Africa, 12 volunteers were injured and ambulances were damaged in separate violent incidents after the outbreak began in mid-May.

The incidents raise concern for humanitarian workers trying to support treatment, transport and community outreach in an outbreak setting where access and public trust are critical. The report identifies the violence as taking place in the context of Ebola response efforts, though it does not provide further details on who carried out the attacks or where each incident occurred.

The condemnation from the Red Cross network underscores the risks faced by volunteers in areas affected by conflict or local unrest. In Ebola outbreaks, response teams often depend on community engagement, patient referral and safe movement of medical supplies and ambulances, making attacks on personnel especially disruptive.

More broadly, the episode highlights a recurring challenge in public health emergencies: humanitarian operations can be slowed when responders become targets. The publication’s account does not indicate the long-term impact on the Ebola campaign, but it suggests the violence has complicated efforts to protect communities and support the medical response.