Democratic Republic of Congo: In the shadow of conflict, MSF teams are chasing disease outbreaks
Epidemics escalate while aid funding declines, leaving already strained health systems overwhelmed and under-resourced.
Since the beginning of 2025, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has experienced a concerning increase in epidemics, particularly measles and cholera. These outbreaks are occurring at a time of escalating violence and insecurity in the country, while fears of how recent cuts to international humanitarian assistance will impact the situation continue to grow. Resources to contain these epidemics are already critically insufficient.
Measles and cholera have been spreading across the country for months now. By the beginning of July, over 36,000 suspected measles cases and 565 deaths were reported in nearly all 26 provinces, alongside 33,864 cholera cases resulting in 757 deaths.
“Everywhere, our teams are facing the same situation. Everything is lacking and outbreaks are multiplying.”
Emmanuel Lampaert, MSF representative in the DRC
While DRC has experienced more widespread epidemics in the past, the acute shortage of resources and vaccines to respond to them – as well as logistical and security challenges in the eastern regions – makes the current situation particularly complex and concerning.
“DRC is facing shortages of several vaccines, including measles and cholera. A shortage of measles vaccines for routine activities is also feared,” says Emmanuel Lampaert, a Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) representative in DRC. “Everywhere, our teams are facing the same situation. Everything is lacking and outbreaks are multiplying.”
In Lomera, South Kivu, an emergency vaccination program set up to deal with the cholera outbreak has not even been able to administer one dose of the vaccine per person due to insufficient supplies. Two doses are required for optimum protection, but supplies are vastly insufficient.
MSF’s operational response
In the first half of 2025, MSF set up more than 20 emergency interventions to support the Ministry of Health in tackling epidemic outbreaks. From North to South Kivu, from Ituri to North-Ubangi, from Maniema to Sankuru and Grand Katanga, these interventions made it possible to vaccinate over 437,000 children against measles and to treat more than 5,430 patients with the disease. At the same time, almost 12,800 patients were treated for cholera and more than 11,000 people were vaccinated against the disease.
However, the conditions in which we’re operating are often suboptimal and it is difficult to cut the chains of disease transmission.
“Without sustainable investment in access to drinking water and the implementation of an effective waste management system, cholera will continue to wreak havoc.”
Luiza Suarez, MSF medical coordinator in South Kivu
“In Businga, in North Ubangi province, there was a severe shortage of measles vaccines and no electricity, which is crucial for refrigerating the vaccines”, says Thomas Holibanga, MSF head of emergency response in Businga. “We had to do everything we could to guarantee the cold chain and transport the vaccines to areas sometimes located more than 180 kilometres from the zone’s central office. The local authorities didn’t have the necessary logistics: motorcycles, pirogues [a type of canoe], speedboats…”
In Lomera, the lack of cholera vaccines is exacerbated by poor hygiene conditions that facilitate the spread of the disease. “Without sustainable investment in access to drinking water and the implementation of an effective waste management system, cholera will continue to wreak havoc,” says Luiza Suarez, MSF medical coordinator in South Kivu. “It is essential that the authorities and partners step up their efforts to guarantee adequate water, hygiene and sanitation services, in order to prevent epidemic outbreaks sustainably.”
Insecurity, an aggravating factor in epidemics
The insecurity and fighting in eastern DRC are also contributing to the multiplication of epidemic outbreaks, and make the delivery of vaccines and medical supplies extremely difficult.
In Bambo and Masisi in North Kivu province, for instance, MSF-supported vaccination campaigns have been delayed due to fighting. However, the security situation in the east impacts more than just the areas directly affected by the fighting. For months now, the closure of Bukavu and Goma airports has blocked the main route for vaccines to eastern DRC. As a result, stocks that are usually flown in from Kinshasa have rapidly run out.
The authorities and some UN agencies have set up initiatives to replenish stocks, but the delivery of supplies requires much greater logistical and financial resources. This is happening at a time when overall humanitarian funding is being sharply reduced, raising serious concerns for the future of DRC.
“The epidemiological situation, coupled with international budget cuts, is extremely concerning,” says Lampaert. “We call on political and administrative authorities, as well as international partners, to do everything in their power to mitigate the risk of the situation deteriorating further. This includes reopening the airports in Goma and Bukavu and ensuring the safety of air and land transport. This is critical to enable an effective response to the multiple emergencies currently impacting the country.”
