Ebola aid workers in prison fear they will be killed by militia if they leave their hotel – Brinkwire

The Ebola virus is currently ravaging parts of Central Africa, with 1,790 people dying from the disease.

The world is currently looking anxiously, with the risk of an infected person getting on a plane and spreading the disease.

Superpowers from around the world have sent aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo to fight the epidemic.

However, a number of factors in the country affected by the disease block help on its way.

"We can not go out"

Humanitarian worker

As previously reported in Daily Star Online, some communities in the Beni region do not accept help, believing that the disease does not exist.

The warring militias in the country are also letting the aid workers fear for their lives.

After the WHO declared the disease "Public health emergency of international concern", new epidemics were declared in the country torn by the war.

Military groups cut off communities affected by the disease and need help, leaving infected people to die.

Moussa Sangara, The director of World Vision's response to World Vision in the DRC, told Daily Star Online exclusively that his team was locked out, the disease ravaging the country.

He told us: "Today, there is a demonstration in town and we can not go out.

"We are still working at the hotel but it is not the same thing as going to the communities.

"They say it's a specific manifestation, but that movement in the city has been limited and that there have been threats against the vehicles of the organizations in the response."

The WHO had previously had to suspend any relief work due to attacks and threats from militias.

Militias at war in the country have prevented aid workers from treating victims and accessing communities, contributing to what Sangara describes as the worst epidemic in DRC history.

Mr. Sangara added that activities should be regularly suspended, militias attacking humanitarian convoys and blocking roads.

He also said: "Up to now, it was mainly threats of violence.

"We've had cases of carjacking, it's very common, they take away all the goods, the money and everything that is valuable.

"There are also attacks on local communities.

"They do not distinguish between you and the locals, so they will attack you and you are caught between two fires."