A serious incident shook the Rwampara health center, located ten kilometers from Bunia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. Following the medical authorities' refusal to release the body of a patient who died from the Ebola epidemic, angry relatives set fire to two isolation tents. Faced with this escalation, the Minister of Health, Roger Kamba, immediately called for calm and responsible action.

1. A morning marked by saturation

Before the situation deteriorated, Barry Mamadou Kaba, head of mission for the NGO Alima in the DRC, had already warned on RFI about the critical lack of resources. In Rwampara, patients are divided between the general hospital and a private clinic (the CME). To address the emergency and protect staff, Alima had erected temporary tents to isolate suspected cases.

Alima's observation: Current facilities are overwhelmed. Funding from partners is desperately needed to build a truly secure and individualized treatment center. If the funds were released, such a center could be operational within a week.

Meanwhile, the NGO has transported "cubes" (bio-secure emergency rooms) to Bunia. At the time of these statements, the general hospital was treating five suspected cases and one confirmed case.

2. The afternoon: The spark and the incident

Tensions escalated after the death of an Ebola-positive patient. Relatives of the victim, who were motorcyclists, demanded the return of the body. Despite medical teams' attempts to explain and dissuade them from the serious risks of infection, the group resorted to violence, setting fire to two tents at the facility.

3. The health update from the Minister of Health

Interviewed by RFI, Minister Roger Kamba firmly reiterated the scientific realities of the disease to dispel the misunderstanding:

1. Mode of transmission: Unlike Covid-19, Ebola is not a respiratory disease. The virus is transmitted exclusively through direct contact with bodily fluids (blood, urine, feces, vomit, sweat).
2. Post-mortem danger: A lifeless body remains highly contagious. Any handling without protective equipment exposes the body to immediate infection.

“Let us bury the deceased safely. The dead should not take other people with them to the grave.” – Roger Kamba, Minister of Health

4. The reaction and adaptation of the NGO Alima

Alima strongly condemned this act, which endangers lives and destroys crucial medical equipment. The organization also warned against the growing misinformation on social media, fueling distrust of healthcare workers.

To maintain patient care despite the damage, Alima reacted immediately:

1. Temporary reorganization of care spaces.
2. Enhanced security for medical activities.
3. Redeployment of essential equipment and search for alternative solutions.

5. A healthcare system on its last legs

This incident highlights a global undercapacity crisis in the region. Florent Uzzeni, deputy head of emergencies for MSF-Switzerland, who arrived in Bunia two days earlier, confirms the total saturation of the health network:

Structures involved	Current situation
Hospitals, health centers, private clinics	Total saturation (no beds available)
Isolation devices	Overwhelmed by the influx of patients
Actions on the ground	Deemed still insufficient due to a lack of resources

MSF's assessment remains unequivocal: given the scale of the epidemic, the work remaining to be done to stabilize the situation is immense.