Ebola treatment center torched in DR Congo amid rising local tensions

An angry crowd set fire to Ebola treatment tents at Rwampara General Hospital in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The violence erupted after health authorities and medical staff refused to let relatives and friends forcibly retrieve the body of a local man suspected of dying from the virus.

Under strict World Health Organisation (WHO) protocols, the bodies of Ebola victims are highly infectious and must be buried safely using protective equipment to prevent further spread.

However, the young man’s death—which many in the community blamed on other illnesses like typhoid—sparked intense frustration.

When staff denied access to his remains, the crowd began throwing projectiles at the medical facility. The resulting blaze destroyed two hospital tents, though medical charity ALIMA reported that all six patients being treated inside were safely relocated.

Local politicians and medical coordinators note that extreme mistrust and deep-seated misinformation continue to hamper crisis management efforts in the region, with some residents believing the disease is an invention meant to benefit outsiders.

The World Health Organisation continues to monitor the outbreak as fears of the virus spreading grow