Rebel attack in Congo's Ebola zone kills at least 14 civilians

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – At least 14 civilians were killed on Saturday in a six-hour rebel attack on Beni, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said. Reuters. cancel an Ebola outbreak in the region.

The latest outbreak of this deadly disease took place in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, which formed a box of armed rebellion and ethnic massacres since two civil wars in the late 1990s.

Activists suspected of belonging to the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan Islamist group active in eastern Congo, have clashed with Congolese troops in Beni, a town of several hundred thousand people, said on the phone. local leader of the Kizito Bin Hangi civil society.

"Beni is ungovernable this morning. Several demonstrations have been declared in the city where the population expresses their anger with consternation, "he said.

In addition to the known deaths, dozens of civilians were injured while they were fleeing the violence, which erupted in the early hours of Saturday night and lasted until midnight, Bin Hangi added.

An army spokesman declined to comment immediately.

The attack highlights the challenges facing the government and health organizations in fighting Ebola in a region where years of instability have undermined public confidence in the authorities.

The violence "will have a huge impact on the overall response to Ebola," a local public health official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

"The general hospital that houses one of the Ebola treatment centers was angry this morning. This is a normal reaction for a community that has fallen for the umpteenth time, "said the official.

The latest outbreak of Ebola, which causes hemorrhagic fever, vomiting and diarrhea, has reportedly killed 99 people since July and infected another 48 people.