The Red Cross has raised concerns about the potential escape of Ebola and other pathogens from a laboratory in Goma, DR Congo, amidst escalating violence from M23 militants. Patrick Youssef warned of catastrophic consequences if samples were compromised. The situation has also resulted in an influx of dangerously wounded civilians to local hospitals, raising urgent humanitarian needs.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed grave concern on Tuesday regarding the ongoing conflict in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which puts laboratory samples of Ebola and other infectious agents at risk. Patrick Youssef, the ICRC’s regional director for Africa, emphasized the urgent need to secure these samples amid fears of potential power outages at the national biomedical research facility due to the clashes.
Youssef warned that the consequences of allowing samples containing the Ebola virus to escape could be catastrophic, potentially affecting not only the local population but also the broader region. The laboratory is situated in close proximity to the ICRC delegation in Goma, although Youssef indicated he lacked information on the security status of other facilities in the area.
Goma has become increasingly perilous as fighting escalates between the Tutsi-led M23 militant group and Rwandan forces. This violence has persisted since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The United Nations refugee agency reported that more than 500,000 individuals have been displaced this year, further complicating an already critical humanitarian situation as Goma itself shelters approximately 700,000 internally displaced persons.
The ICRC highlighted the severe repercussions of the clashes on civilians. They reported a significant increase in individuals wounded by gunfire and explosions arriving at ICRC-supported medical facilities. Since the beginning of the month, more than 600 casualties have been treated by ICRC staff, with a notable proportion being innocent civilians, including many women and children.
Myriam Favier, the head of the ICRC’s sub-delegation in Goma, detailed the dire conditions for the wounded, stating that patients often lie on the floor due to a lack of space in medical facilities. Meanwhile, Francois Moreillon, the head of the ICRC’s DRC delegation, noted a surge in distress calls from injured individuals in desperate circumstances, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in the region.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been mired in conflict, particularly in the eastern regions, since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. This instability has led to the proliferation of armed groups and significant humanitarian crises, including widespread displacements. Goma, a major city near the Rwandan border, is emblematic of these challenges as it grapples with insecurity and an influx of internally displaced populations seeking safety and healthcare amidst violence. The current hostilities threaten public health further by jeopardizing the integrity of biomedical laboratories housing dangerous pathogens such as the Ebola virus, raising alarms among health organizations.
The situation in Goma underscores an urgent need for intervention to protect public health and civilian lives amid ongoing conflict. The ICRC’s warnings reflect the dire consequences of potential outbreaks from compromised laboratory samples and the overwhelming medical needs of the wounded. As violence escalates, it is critical for humanitarian organizations to respond effectively to the challenges facing both the healthcare system and the broader population in the DRC.
Original Source: www.lemonde.fr
