DRC Ebola Outbreak: Mercy Corps Scales Up Community Response in Ituri as Trust Becomes Critical to Stopping Spread

June 04, 2026

Mercy Corps is scaling up community-level support in Ituri province to reinforce the government-led Ebola response, as fear, rumors, and mistrust continue to threaten and slow efforts to stop the spread.  

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has expanded beyond Ituri into parts of North and South Kivu. As health teams race to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing, referrals, and care, Mercy Corps is focusing on the community-level work that helps those efforts succeed, including supporting trusted dialogue among community members and hygiene support in health facilities, schools, markets, transport hubs, and other places where people gather. 

Mercy Corps’ response is grounded in ongoing work with communities in Bunia and Rwampara, where teams already work with local partners, community leaders, women’s and youth groups, teachers, religious leaders, and everyday community connectors such as motorbike associations. Through these networks, Mercy Corps is supporting community dialogue, rumor tracking, water and sanitation activities, hygiene materials, handwashing stations, temperature screening, and psychosocial support for people affected by fear, stigma, or trauma linked to the outbreak. 

Basile Rambaud, Mercy Corps Emergency Program Director in DRC, speaking from Bunia, says: 

“The situation in Bunia and Ituri is deeply unsettling for communities and responders. Ebola is a traumatic disease that creates fear far beyond the people who are infected, deeply affecting families, health workers, and entire communities. 

“In that environment, messages alone are not enough. We can tell people to wash their hands and use clean water, but if there is no water, no soap, no hygiene materials, and no safe way to seek care, people cannot put that advice into practice. 

“People also need trusted voices who can listen, answer questions, and help families understand how to protect themselves. That is why we are working with local leaders, teachers, religious leaders, women’s and youth groups, and groups like motorbike associations, not just as messengers, but as partners in the response. 

“Trust can be the difference between someone seeking care early or staying away until it is too late. If people do not trust the response, they end up delaying to seek care, rejecting protective measures, or avoiding working with health teams, giving the virus more time to spread.” 

Rose Tchwenko, Mercy Corps Country Director for DRC, says: 

"The virus continues to spread even as the response gains momentum. The announcement of six cured cases and progressive easing of restrictions on the movement of supplies and people offers a glimmer of hope and must continue as protective measures are put in place. However, in places like Ituri, contract tracing is far too low, and Ebola continues to spread through the cracks left by conflict, displacement, weak health services, access constraints, and declining humanitarian support.  

“Previous experiences have shown us that Ebola outbreaks cannot be stopped through clinical measures alone. Treatment, vaccination and case management are essential, but stopping transmission depends on communities being informed, engaged and trusted partners in the response.  

"Donors and partners need to fund the full response, including the community-led interventions needed to stop transmission and protect vulnerable populations. In a region that has already faced repeated Ebola outbreaks, we cannot keep rebuilding the response from scratch.   

We need sustained international support to respond to this emergency and strengthen local systems and community networks, so we can mitigate the risk of another outbreak happening again at this scale. Sadly, we know Ebola will continue to re-emerge as long as the underlying vulnerabilities remain unresolved." 

 

Since 2007, Mercy Corps has supported communities in DRC through improved access to clean water and sanitation, increased livelihood opportunities, promoting good governance, and emergency support in the wake of natural disasters. 

Notes to Editors 

  • Mercy Corps’ latest crisis analysis report identifies community misinformation, access constraints, fragile health facilities, geographic spread, and risks to frontline responders as major challenges to the response. It recommends stronger community communication, engagement with trusted local leaders, and ongoing monitoring of rumours and community concerns. 
  • Mercy Corps’ response in Ituri focuses on community engagement, water, sanitation and hygiene, infection prevention, and psychosocial support. In health facilities, schools, markets, transport hubs, and other public spaces, this support helps reduce transmission risks and gives people practical ways to act on health guidance. 
  • Mercy Corps' approach is based on lessons from previous Ebola outbreaks, showing that when medical response, surveillance, and contact tracing are more effective, communities trust the response and are actively involved  

  • Ebola is adding pressure to an already stretched humanitarian response in eastern DRC. Movement restrictions, insecurity, strained health services, and funding gaps can disrupt other lifesaving support, from routine healthcare and WASH services to markets and livelihoods. As of 2 June, the 2026 DRC Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan was only 35% funded, with health around 31% funded and WASH around 15% funded, despite both being critical to Ebola prevention and wider lifesaving services. 

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