Health officials and aid agencies are raising concerns after at least 30 people died in a displacement camp in northeastern Congo since the beginning of May. The unusually high death toll has sparked fears that Ebola may be spreading rapidly through the camp, although authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the deaths.

The fatalities occurred in Kigonze camp in Bunia, the epicenter of the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Officials have struggled to determine the exact cause because residents and families initially refused to allow medical testing on both the living and the deceased.

Many of the victims reportedly experienced symptoms commonly associated with Ebola, including headaches, fever, and vomiting.

“People didn't just die like this before,” camp spokesperson Desire Grodya Bapi told Reuters.

Congo Ebola Crisis Raises Fears of Wider Spread Among Displaced People

Kigonze camp houses more than 15,000 displaced residents. The sudden increase in deaths has raised fears that Ebola could be circulating undetected among eastern Congo’s more than five million displaced people.

Aid workers say resistance to testing has made it difficult for health officials to identify infections and stop transmission. Combined with poor sanitation, the situation has created ideal conditions for disease outbreaks.

Camp President Dz'djo Ndrutsi Etienne said 10 people were buried during the current week alone. In contrast, the camp usually records only one to three deaths each month.

Bodies Covered in Sheets as Deaths Continue to Rise

Justin Zanamuzi, director of the Catholic aid organization Caritas, said his team witnessed several bodies covered with sheets on Wednesday. Among the dead were children and a pregnant woman.

Video footage verified by Reuters showed health workers wearing protective hazmat suits while disinfecting bodies and preparing small coffins near a crucifix as grieving families mourned nearby.

“Our team tried to persuade people to accept doctors to inspect the bodies. They completely refused,” Zanamuzi said.

The Congolese government officially declared the Ebola outbreak on May 15, although officials later acknowledged that deaths had started earlier in the month.

Health workers have now collected samples from five victims and are waiting for laboratory results. While Ebola remains a major concern, experts note that cholera can also cause similar symptoms and spread rapidly in vulnerable communities.

Congo Camp Residents Describe Dire Living Conditions

Residents say living conditions inside the camp have become unbearable.

Kato Lonu, a 47-year-old resident who lost two children, including a six-month-old baby, described the scale of suffering inside the camp.

"These are conditions that no human being should have to live in. If you look around, people are dying one after another," he said.

His comments reflect the growing fear and frustration among families living in overcrowded shelters with limited access to basic services.

Poor Sanitation Conditions Increase Ebola Risk

Humanitarian workers believe poor sanitation is contributing to the health emergency. Ebola spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids, making clean water, proper hygiene, and safe waste disposal essential for controlling outbreaks.

According to aid workers, reductions in international funding have weakened water, hygiene, and sanitation programs across affected areas.

United Nations data shows funding for toilets and handwashing stations in Congo fell by more than half between 2024 and 2025, dropping to about $38 million. Meanwhile, only 21% of this year's $80 million funding appeal has been received.

Overcrowded Displacement Camps Create Dangerous Health Challenges

Congo is home to hundreds of camps sheltering civilians displaced by conflict. Some camps house up to 100,000 people. Health officials have already recorded Ebola-related deaths in another displacement camp in Ituri province, which accounts for more than 90% of the country’s nearly 900 confirmed Ebola cases.

In Kigonze, large families often share plastic shelters positioned less than a meter apart. Children walk barefoot through narrow dirt pathways, increasing their exposure to disease and unsanitary conditions.

USAID-Funded Toilets Struggle to Meet Demand

Several toilets built with support from USAID remain in the camp, but residents and aid workers say they are far from adequate.

Camp officials report that many of the facilities overflow regularly due to heavy use and insufficient maintenance.

“The latrines, they fill up very quickly, and people have to empty them themselves, with their bare hands," Grodya said.

The lack of sanitation infrastructure has become one of the most pressing concerns for health workers trying to prevent further disease transmission.

US Aid Cuts Impact Water and Sanitation Projects in Congo

The United States has historically been the largest supporter of water, sanitation, and hygiene programs in Congo. A summary shared by a former USAID official showed that Washington provided more than $60 million for WASH services in 2024.

The Trump administration has defended the funding reductions, saying it wants to focus on “hyper-prioritised life-saving humanitarian assistance, opens new tab”. At the same time, Washington has committed more than $375 million in direct Ebola funding.

There was no immediate response from the U.S. State Department regarding the situation at Kigonze camp. Reuters was also unable to determine how much U.S. assistance currently reaches the camp.

Humanitarian Organizations Report Major Service Reductions

Several international aid organizations, including Mercy Corps, Danish Refugee Council, CARE International, and Oxfam, said their U.S.-funded sanitation projects in Ebola-affected provinces have been reduced or discontinued.

Mercy Corps reported that it built 82 water taps and more than 400 public toilets serving over 125,000 displaced people in 2024. Following funding cuts, the organization now serves fewer than 19,000 people through only six water taps and no public toilets.

Congo Ebola Outbreak Highlights Growing Humanitarian Crisis

The sharp rise in deaths at Kigonze camp has exposed the challenges facing health authorities and aid organizations in containing the Ebola outbreak. Resistance to testing, overcrowded living conditions, poor sanitation, and reduced humanitarian funding have created a dangerous environment for disease transmission.

As health workers await laboratory results, concerns continue to grow that Ebola could be spreading more widely among Congo’s displaced population, putting millions of vulnerable people at risk.