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• Affected provinces and health zones:

  • Ituri: Aru, Bunia, Kilo, Mongbwalu, Nizi, Nyankunde, Rwampala

  • North Kivu: Butembo, Goma, Katwa

  • South Kivu: Miti-Murhesa

• Key epidemiological indicators (cumulative as of May 24, 2026):

  • 101 confirmed cases

  • 10 confirmed deaths

  • 930 cumulative suspected cases

  • 221 suspected deaths

  • 2,231 contacts listed

  • 0 recoveries reported at this stage

Operational Updates:

• Partners are requested to complete the DRC questionnaire – Rapid Gap and Needs Analysis – Ebola Response – 05/2026.

• The Logistics Cluster has arranged for the shipment of cargo to four health zones. Approximately 50 metric tons of cargo for UNICEF is currently in inventory in Bunia. Discussions are underway to secure additional storage space: 1,000 m² at the airport and 240 m² in the WFP warehouse in Bunia. Eight Mobile Storage Units (MSUs) are pre-positioned in Bunia and can be deployed as needed to facilitate last-mile storage.

Concept of Operations 

• Operational Scaling Up
  
  • Strengthening support from the Logistics Cluster to facilitate the transport, storage, and coordination of humanitarian cargo

  • Common services activated (free of charge) to support partners

     

• DRC
  
  • Coordination and information management in Kinshasa and in affected areas.
  • Temporary storage services will be provided in Kinshasa and Bunia.
  • Additional logistics hubs (5) will be established as needed.
  • Facilitation of road transport access from Bunia to affected areas
  • Facilitation of access to air transport from Kinshasa to Bunia, and from Bunia to affected areas
• Uganda
  
  • Humanitarian transit zone in Entebbe for the consolidation of cargo and its subsequent transport to the DRC
  • Air and road transport from Entebbe to Bunia
• Rwanda
  
  • Humanitarian transit zone in Kigali for the consolidation of cargo and its subsequent transport to the DRC
  • Road transport from Kigali to affected areas.
• For all humanitarian cargo in transit through Uganda:
  
  • Temporary storage solutions are currently being developed. 
• Partners requiring free transport services to Bunia must submit a DSL:
  
  • The link to the DSL is available here 
  • Partners must request the “transport” service and specify Entebbe Airport as the point of origin and Bunia Airport as the delivery point.
  • Cargo stored at Bunia Airport may be transported further into the DRC at a later date without an additional SRF. The key is that we have the information from the start. 
  • Please provide as many details as possible per line item in your SRF! 
  • We particularly need to know if there are any DG items or items requiring special handling. 

• Flight Restrictions in Bunia

  • On May 27, UNHAS DRC announced the immediate temporary suspension of passenger flights departing from Bunia and Beni, in accordance with the DRC government’s measures related to the Ebola outbreak.

  • Key measures:

    • Passenger flights from Bunia/Beni: suspended until further notice (exceptions via WHO)

    • Passenger flights to Bunia/Beni: exceptional authorization only via UNHAS

    • Reservation requests: at least 48 hours in advance

    • Other destinations: no changes, except for Bunia, Beni, and Entebbe

  • Exceptions apply only to personnel involved in the Ebola response, duly justified on a case-by-case basis by WHO. Flights are approved on a case-by-case basis, particularly for rotations between Bunia/Beni and Kinshasa, and between Entebbe and the DRC.

• UNHAS operations and MONUSCO support

  • UNHAS is expanding its fleet with:

    • A jet based in Kinshasa

    • A helicopter based in Bunia

  • MONUSCO has provided two helicopters in support.

  • Reconnaissance flights were conducted in Mongbwalu and Nyankunde. Repairs were made to a previously decommissioned airstrip to establish a helicopter landing zone there.

• Reconnaissance and runway assessment activities

  • A reconnaissance mission (airplane) was conducted in Nyankunde, including discussions with the village doctor and the zone chief medical officer.

  • A new reconnaissance flight to Nyankunde is scheduled for May 28 with support from MONUSCO (helicopter).

• Restrictions on passengers and cargo

  • Passenger transport is currently authorized to Bunia and Beni, but not in the opposite direction.

  • From Entebbe, only duly justified cargo flights are permitted (form required).

  • No passenger transport is permitted from the affected areas (Bunia, Beni) to Kinshasa or Kalemie.

• Regulatory authorities

  • Authorizations for Bunia and Beni fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Transport, and the civil aviation authority.

• Requests for cargo flights to the epicenters

  • To date, UNHAS has received no requests for cargo flights to the priority areas: Mongbwalu, Aru, Nyankunde, and Rwampara.

  • Available capacity:

    • Two fixed-wing aircraft

    • Two MONUSCO helicopters dedicated to supporting the Ebola response

• Status of flights from Kinshasa to Bunia/Beni

  • These flights are operational and authorized on a case-by-case basis.

  • However, no passengers are permitted to depart from Bunia and Beni, except in cases of specific exemptions approved by the WHO.

  • Any request to travel to red zones must be fully justified.

• Medical Evacuation (MedEvac) Procedures

  • Every staff member will be considered a suspected Ebola case.

  • Specific procedures are being developed by UNHAS, and further information will be provided.

  • There is an urgent need for an “exit protocol” to leave affected areas, approved by the WHO, the Ministry of Health, and civil aviation authorities (including the RVA), to facilitate staff rotation in support of the Ebola response.

• Goma: 

  • The airport is currently closed. UNHAS is negotiating access to various routes on which flights could be operated, taking into account restrictions on passenger flights.

• MSF confirms that, in practice, it is not possible to organize humanitarian flights at this time. Discussions are underway regarding the necessary exemptions for humanitarian flights.

• Humanitarian workers may travel within the region subject to prior approval. OCHA must be notified of any travel to Uvira and other locations (to be confirmed), with authorizations granted on a case-by-case basis. Clarification is needed regarding the procedures applicable to national and international staff. Coordination is required with OCHA Bukavu and OCHA Uvira, with notification 24 to 48 hours prior to any movement.

• Information sharing on:
  
  • Website: Democratic Republic of the Congo | Logistics Cluster Website
  • LogIE: DR of the Congo
  • Mobile app