DRC - Concept of Operations - Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Outbreak, May 2026

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Context

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) officially declared an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak on 15 May 2026, following laboratory confirmation of the Bundibugyo strain in Ituri Province. As of 27 May, 128 confirmed cases (1077 suspected cases) and 18 confirmed deaths (238 suspected deaths) had been reported. The most affected health zones, Mongwalu, Rwampara, Nyankunde, and Bunia, are all located within an already fragile humanitarian context. 

In light of the potential for international spread and uncertainties surrounding the scale of transmission, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

The outbreak poses a significant risk of further transmission both within the DRC and across neighbouring countries, particularly Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan. Confirmed cases have already been reported in Uganda and in Goma, near the Rwanda–DRC border. Population movements and regional connectivity may further facilitate the spread of the disease to other major urban centres, including Butembo and Kisangani. At present, no vaccine is available for the Bundibugyo strain.

This marks the seventeenth Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC. In response, the Minister of Health has called for the mobilisation of technical and financial partners to support the national response plan.

Compounding the public health crisis, eastern DRC remains severely affected by ongoing conflict. The expansion of the AFC/M23 in North Kivu and South Kivu has triggered new waves of displacement, as well as forced returns to areas that remain insecure. Other regions, such as Maniema and Tanganyika, continue to experience instability, further heightening the vulnerability of affected populations, particularly women and children, who face increased risks of gender-based violence.

Logistics and telecommunications bottlenecks

Logistics

• Complex customs clearance procedures: the entry of humanitarian supplies into the country remains hindered by a lack of clarity regarding customs procedures, delaying the delivery of assistance.
• Insufficient storage infrastructure: the destruction of warehouses has drastically reduced storage capacity, forcing humanitarian actors to seek temporary solutions that are often inadequate.
• Limited road transport: several road corridors are difficult to access, which hampers the distribution of humanitarian goods to the most affected areas.
• Persistent insecurity and deteriorating infrastructure further complicate supply chain planning: humanitarian partners must constantly adapt their strategies to meet needs in an unstable and unpredictable environment.
• Potential border closure will drastically impact the supply of medical relief items to EDV-affected areas.

• Expected large volumes of supplies could congest entry points inside and outside the country, requiring strong coordination and planning.

   

Telecommunications

• Coverage is limited and uneven, with connectivity mainly concentrated in Bunia and a few corridors, while remote areas remain largely underserved.
• Telecom infrastructure is weak, with low tower density, little fiber backbone, and strong reliance on microwave and satellite links.
• Operational conditions are challenging, as unreliable electricity, difficult terrain, and insecurity constrain network expansion and maintenance.
• Access gaps affect frontline responders most, especially in remote and insecure locations where reliable communication is most needed.
• Humanitarian operations are directly impacted, with poor connectivity slowing reporting, coordination, decision-making, and increasing field-level operational risk.

As a result, the speed and efficiency of the humanitarian response is compromised, directly affecting vulnerable populations that depend on this assistance.

Objectives

The Logistics and Telecommunications Cluster aims to support an effective humanitarian response in the DRC and neighbouring countries by improving the quality of logistics and supply chain services, and emergency telecommunications services in close collaboration with Africa CDC, WHO and National authorities. Its main objectives are:

Logistics

• Optimize coordination and information sharing among humanitarian actors to ensure effective planning and reduce logistics bottlenecks.
• Strengthen coordination between humanitarian partners and local authorities to clarify and accelerate importation and customs clearance processes.
• Coordinate working groups, particularly those related to import and customs clearance constraints.
• Collect and share logistics information and information on physical access constraints.
• Facilitate access, where necessary, to common storage and transport services in strategic logistics hubs.
• Mobilize resources (financial and in-kind) to respond to the needs of humanitarian partners.

Telecommunications

• Coordinate ICT activities across the response community, including commercial entities and government authorities, to reduce duplication and maximize available resources.
• Provide a communications backbone for frontline responders and case management activities.
• Ensure immediate connectivity to support response coordination.
• Enable risk communication and community engagement activities

Planned activities

The following activities are not intended to replace the logistics and telecommunications capacities of individual agencies or organizations, nor to compete with the commercial sector, but rather to address identified gaps in the humanitarian supply chain and/or resolve bottlenecks that limit the ability of responding organizations to distribute relief supplies effectively. The following activities will be proposed for an initial period of three months: