Attacks on Ebola Response

Supporting organisations and health providers with insight into the patterns of attacks on healthcare and thinking about appropriate security risk management approaches that help to mitigate the impact of attacks on health care to ensure staff safety and better health outcomes.

Over 400 attacks and threats against health workers in the area were reported, during the 10th Ebola response. Allegations of widespread sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers working in this Ebola response were also rampant.

Insecurity Insight currently:

– monitors social media for an incitement to violence.

– monitors for reports of violence or threats of violence

– provides a reporting platform for sexual exploitation, harassment and abuse

– provides interactive data on attacks and threats to healthcare in our Security Incidents Map.

– monitors the latest COVID-19 developments impacting the security of response operations around the world.

Project Funding

The Monthly News Brief and the Social Media Monitoring are supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK government through the RIAH project at the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute at the University of Manchester, UK. The monitoring of violence against the 10th Ebola response between September and December 2019 was funded by the H2H Fund which is supported by UK aid from the UK government.

Methodology and Definitions

Find out more about our methodology and definitions here.

Quicklinks

Analysis

Recommendations

Dataset

Mobile Guide

Monthly News Brief

Sexual exploitation in the Ebola response

Sexual Violence in Aid

Social Media Monitoring

Ebola Outbreak in Guinea

On 14 February 2021 health authorities in Guinea declared an Ebola outbreak in Gouéké community in N’Zerekore prefecture after three Ebola cases were confirmed. This marks the first time the disease has been reported in the country since an outbreak ended in 2016.

12th Ebola Outbreak in DRC

The 12th Ebola response in the DRC was declared on 7 February 2021 in North Kivu province, around the city of Butembo. As of 10th March 2021, there have been 11 confirmed cases including four deaths. Our social media monitoring indicates that the damaging rumours which negatively impacted public health campaigns during the 10th Ebola outbreak are still shared by some members of local communities.

11th Ebola Outbreak in DRC

During the 11th Ebola outbreak in the Equateur region between 1 June 2020 and 18 November 2020, 130 cases of Ebola were recorded and 55 people died from the disease. Throughout the outbreak Insecurity Insight monitoring social media for any incitement to violence, for reports of violence or threats of violence and offered a reporting platform on sexual violence and abuse.

10th Ebola Outbreak in DRC

During the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 1 August 2018 and 25 June 2020, 3,470 cases of Ebola were recorded and 2,287 people died from the disease. During this time over 400 attacks and threats against health workers in the area were reported. For an overview of reported violence during the 10th Ebola response see our overview analysis. Based on this information, the following Recommendations and Mobile Guide were produced.

Data 10th Ebola response

Our Resources

Report Abuse

Following widespread allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers working in the 10th Ebola response in the DRC an online reporting platform was developed. This reporting platform is designed for individuals who are working in public health responses in the DRC and who have experienced sexual exploitation, harassments and abuse whilst working in that health response.

Emergency Healthcare in Insecure Settings

Public health emergencies in conflict-affected areas or insecure settings can lead to significant security challenges. This mobile guide highlights key security risk management measures that help to protect healthcare responders and communities.

Lessons from the 10th Ebola outbreak in the DRC

Lessons from the 10th Ebola outbreak in the DRC

Mechanisms for reporting sexual violence, exploitation and abuse affecting health workers need to be improved. Such a process will only be successful if it succeeds in breaking the culture of silence and empowers those who are able and willing to report their experiences.

Read our recommendations on strengthening reporting on sexual violence, exploitation and abuse.

Recommendations

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Emergency Healthcare in Insecure Settings

Emergency Healthcare in Insecure Settings

15-min guide on how to implement security risk management measures to protect healthcare responders and communities during a public health emergency or infectious disease outbreak.

This resource provides guidance on how to:
1. Gain the acceptance of community members and non-state armed groups.
2. Prevent and respond to violent attacks against healthcare workers and arson attacks on health facilities.

Access the guide. You need to be registered with DisasterReady!

Download PDF

2019 Monitoring