OCHA Urges Protection Of Aid Workers As Eastern DRC Attacks Persist

Bunia, August 19, 2026 - Humanitarian authorities urged armed actors in eastern DRC to protect civilians and aid workers, warning that attacks on relief operations are compounding insecurity in conflict-affected provinces.

The appeal came in Bunia, where OCHA highlighted 293 incidents affecting humanitarian workers between January and July. Since June, 34 additional incidents were linked to the Ebola response, underlining how insecurity is disrupting both emergency relief and public health operations.

Ituri authorities reported 13 humanitarian workers killed and 626 security incidents targeting aid actors across the conflict-affected east over the previous year. Violence has continued in Djugu, Irumu and Mambasa, including attacks linked to the ADF.

The pattern of attacks threatens delivery of food, health and disease-response services in areas already exposed to armed group violence. For DRC, deteriorating humanitarian access in the east adds fiscal and governance pressure while complicating stabilization efforts in regions important to trade and mining supply chains.