July 18, 2019—Ottawa, Canada

IMPACT has been closely monitoring the evolving situation since the first cases of Ebola were declared in Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu and Ituri Provinces in August 2018. This marks the country’s 10th Ebola epidemic.

In Ituri Province, IMPACT’s activities are based out of a field office in Mambasa. Our local team works with partners in surrounding artisanal gold mining communities and mine sites.

Since the outbreak was first declared, our team in Ottawa has worked with our Mambasa-based local staff to implement IMPACT’s security protocols. We put in place measures recommended by the World Health Organization such as handwashing stations and supported raising awareness among partners about the importance of implementing these preventive measures.

At this time, IMPACT is concerned with the growing number of confirmed Ebola cases in Mandima Health Zone in communities with which IMPACT directly works in, as well as a confirmed case in Mambasa Health Zone.

We are working with our local team in Mambasa to reduce movements to only essential local travel and have suspended activities in the field. We have suspended all visits by our international team members until further notice to allow priority for humanitarian and medical responders trying to reach the area. Our priority remains the health and safety of our local team members and partners.

We praise the rapid local and international response to the outbreak. We are hopeful that it will be contained soon and our work with local partners to improve security, development, and equality in Ituri Province will restart.

-30-

For more information:
Zuzia Danielski
Communications Director, IMPACT
zdanielski@impacttransform.org