The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has strengthened its support for the fight against the Ebola outbreak by handing over new vehicles to the World Health Organization (WHO) to facilitate team mobility and improve response efforts in Ituri Province.
The official handover ceremony took place on Wednesday, June 3, in Bunia, the provincial capital.
“The handover of two armored vehicles, two fully equipped ambulances, and one light utility vehicle to the World Health Organization represents much more than a simple transfer of equipment: it is a reinforcement of our shared determination to save lives,” said Jean-Jacques Lopez, Acting Head of MONUSCO’s office in Bunia.
This logistical support complements a first batch of vehicles delivered on May 22, consisting of two ambulances, two four-wheel-drive vehicles, and five motorcycles.
Crucial logistical support in the field
In areas affected by Ebola, operational challenges remain considerable. Mobility, speed, and security are essential to the effectiveness of response teams.
The new armored vehicles will enhance the safety of teams operating in high-risk areas, while the ambulances will improve the rapid evacuation and care of patients during transport.
Dr. Marie-Roseline Belizaire, WHO’s Director of Emergencies for Africa and head of the Ebola response in Ituri, praised MONUSCO’s continued commitment.
“We thank MONUSCO for its constant commitment and remarkable support in the fight against the Ebola outbreak,” she said.
She also recalled the Mission’s decisive role during the early stages of the response:
“MONUSCO was the first partner to provide us with vehicles, the first partner to help transport equipment to support this response effort and assist the population.”
The WHO official also highlighted the quality of collaboration between the two UN entities.
“This is an exemplary partnership. Working together to support this response and providing the logistical resources we need to carry out our work under the best possible conditions truly demonstrates MONUSCO’s strong leadership, as well as the solid partnership between MONUSCO and the World Health Organization,” she emphasized.
Dr. Belizaire also stressed the critical importance of logistical support, particularly air transport:
“It is thanks to your operational capacity that we were able to rapidly deploy equipment; we were the first to arrive in the field (...) air transport played a critical role in reducing response times and maintaining our operational presence; without it, this would have been impossible.”
Enhanced logistical support
As part of this assistance, MONUSCO is also making two secure offices available to WHO at its logistics base in the Bankoko district, near Bunia Airport. A new MONUSCO cargo flight is scheduled for June 4, carrying an additional 10 tons of equipment for the Ebola response. In total, more than 120 tons of equipment will have been transported to Bunia for the benefit of WHO and its partners.
Ituri Province remains the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To date, 14 of the province’s 36 health zones have been affected.
