disaster
DR Congo: As Ebola spreads in Eastern DRC, WFP warns food, livelihoods and access are critical to containing the outbreak
By World Food Programme at ReliefWeb
· June 26, 2026
· 4 min read
. GENEVA/KINSHASA - Thank you, and good morning. Let me start with the bigger picture. Ebola is spreading in eastern DRC in the middle of one of the world’s largest hunger crises. Across the country, 26.5 million people — almost one in four Congolese — do not have enough food. More than 3.6 million
Key takeaway And in North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika alone, nearly 10 million people are struggling to put food on the table.
Why this matters
The situation in eastern DRC highlights the intricate link between humanitarian crises and disease outbreaks. With nearly 10 million people struggling to access food in the affected regions, the Ebola outbreak is not only a health emergency but also a complex humanitarian issue. The World Food Programme's warning that food, livelihoods, and access are critical to containing the outbreak underscores the need for a multifaceted response. As people move in search of food, work, and safety, they increase the risk of spreading the virus, making it harder for health teams to track and contain the outbreak. The economic pressure building in areas like Bunia, where families are already vulnerable due to conflict and displacement, further exacerbates the crisis. Effective containment of the outbreak will require addressing the underlying humanitarian needs, including food insecurity and livelihood support, to reduce the pressure on families to move and allow health teams to operate effectively.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Jesus Give surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: disaster ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: ReliefWeb ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? . GENEVA/KINSHASA - Thank you, and good morning. Let me start with the bigger picture. Ebola is spreading in eastern DRC in the middle of one of the world’s largest hunger crises. Across the country, 26.5 million people — almost one in four Congolese — do not have enough food. More than 3.6 million
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Jesus Give readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by World Food Programme at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Jesus Give selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more disaster coverage from Jesus Give, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .