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The Ebola crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is worsening and poses a serious threat to the ongoing humanitarian response, of which nearly 13 million people depend on life support. As of May 27, 2019, more than 1,832 confirmed cases of Ebola had been identified in eastern DRC and 1,193 confirmed deaths. Substantial community resistance to response in many communities remains a serious barrier, as indicated by persistent reports that people have refused the vaccine and avoided treatment centers. In addition, since March, nearly 30 violent attacks on treatment centers and hand-washing stations for Ebola have occurred, including the murder of a WHO doctor during the Attack of a hospital in Butembo. Because of this momentum, efforts to slow the spread of new infections have been severely hampered and there is a serious risk that the disease will spread further south along the main road to Goma.
The purpose of this document is to provide donors, NGOs and technical bodies such as WHO, UNICEF and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) with an overview of what is really about why and how to deploy community mobilization in public health emergencies. a literature and reflection on Mercy Corps testimonials from a 2015 community mobilization campaign in Liberia. It is crucial to take stock of the elements that mobilize the community in the response to Ebola, as decisive investments in community mobilization will be needed to effectively reduce resistance and increase confidence and ownership of the response. by the community.
Main implications
…for donors: Direct 24 – month round funding should target agile partners already on the ground in eastern DRC and in high – risk areas of neighboring countries such as South Sudan, Rwanda, and Rwanda. Uganda.
…for technical agencies (WHO, UNICEF, OCHA): A senior community engagement officer should be appointed at the highest strategic level to ensure effective ownership of the community throughout the response.
…for NGOs: Fostering community ownership in a conflict context will require the commitment of substantial staff and resources for continuous learning and adaptation to local perceptions and politics.
Overview and context
Although several Ebola outbreaks have occurred in fragile and post-conflict contexts, this epidemic in North Kivu and Ituri is different in that it coincides with an area of active conflict with nearly 120 different armed groups fighting among themselves and with the government. . Battles between armed groups and acts of violence against civilians were common in the region before the start of the current Ebola outbreak. These types of violence continued as the spread of the disease spread and attacks on the Ebola response increased. In April 2019 alone, 9 fights between armed groups and 14 acts of violence against civilians were reported in or near health zones where the epidemic is active.
The current epidemic is also different from other previous epidemics in that it coincided with a highly controversial election campaign, marked by delays in voting, reports of electoral malfeasance affecting the outcome and a suspension of voting in areas affected by Ebola. Current violence and the conflicting political climate have shaped community resistance by fostering a lack of trust between communities, government and stakeholders. A recent study published as part of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative shows that in September 2018, 45.9% of respondents believed at least one misconception about Ebola and 60% did not trust the government to his response. The behavioral data compilation of Social Science in Humanitarian Response of March 2019 confirms that many of the rumors based on political conspiracy theories, such as "The Ebola Virus Disease was sent here by the Kabila government to take revenge on the inhabitants of the great North Kivu because he understood that he was not welcome here.
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