To the People of DRC, Especially the People of Ituri
Jambo kwenu wakahaji wa Ituri Mbote na bino, bato ya Ituri
My name is Tedros, and I serve as the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). However, today I am reaching out not in my official capacity. I am writing to you as someone familiar with your region, who has traversed your streets, and who holds deep concern for what transpires with you and your loved ones.
I am reaching out because I wish to stand with you during these times. And I want you to understand that you are not isolated.
Ebola is not unfamiliar to me personally. Between 2018 and 2020, I visited North Kivu fourteen times, the center of the outbreak at that period. Fourteen trips to Beni, Butembo, Katwa, Goma, and numerous other communities. During that outbreak, Ebola extended across North Kivu, South Kivu, and also reached portions of Ituri. I stood alongside families who had lost their dear ones. I encountered health workers endangering their lives daily. I met community leaders, traditional healers, religious figures, and business leaders who declined to abandon their communities. I witnessed men and women displaying exceptional bravery in the most challenging situations. The locals there, who observed my repeated returns, wished to grant me a name that belonged to their community. They inquired whether I was the first, second, or third child of my parents. When I informed them I was the firstborn, they bestowed upon me the name Dr Paluku. I carry that name with honor. It transcends a mere label. It represents a connection. It serves as a reminder that this effort is not about titles or organizations. It revolves around people. It revolves around you.
That outbreak ranked among the most challenging in history. It did not occur in a calm, secure setting. It unfolded amidst armed conflict, with populations displaced, supply chains interrupted, and health workers functioning under persistent danger. Individuals were escaping violence while simultaneously striving to shield themselves and their families from a lethal illness. I recall being in Beni on multiple occasions while combat was occurring on the city's edges. We could perceive it. Yet the health workers around me persisted. They continued their work. That type of bravery is something I will forever remember. The difficulties of that period are not vastly different from what you are currently experiencing in Ituri. I comprehend that. I have witnessed it firsthand.
Mistrust was profound, and the security circumstances cost us valuable time. Our health workers were assaulted. Clinics were targeted. Individuals merely attempting to preserve lives found themselves entangled in a conflict they did not initiate. Lives were lost that we might have rescued, and that burden remains with me. However, I also observed something extraordinary. When we paid attention, when communities felt respected and heard, circumstances started to shift. Trust developed gradually, then more swiftly. People came forward. And collectively, we succeeded in containing the outbreak. We accomplished it. The people of DRC accomplished it. I will never forget that.
Ebola has returned. This time, the outbreak is most severely impacting Ituri province. Over 90% of all cases have been documented in Ituri province, with a limited number of cases also recorded in North Kivu and South Kivu. I recognize how alarming that is, and I understand that the people of Ituri are shouldering a weight that is not simple to bear.
I am aware that many of you are drained. You are already managing so much: malaria, hunger, insecurity, and the daily struggle to safeguard your families. And now Ebola. It is unjust, and I will not claim otherwise.
But I also wish to express something else regarding Ituri, because this province deserves recognition beyond its struggles. Ituri is a location of remarkable vitality. It is a province of vibrant trade, of entrepreneurial drive, of communities that have declined to be characterized by the conflicts surrounding them. The markets of Bunia pulse with activity. Traders, farmers, teachers, and young individuals constructing their futures against all odds. That spirit, that refusal to surrender, is precisely what we require now. It is the groundwork upon which we will construct our response. We do not arrive in Ituri with only medicine and knowledge. We come to unite with a community that already understands how to battle for its endurance.
I wish to address a special message to the youth of Ituri. You are growing up in conditions that no young person ought to face. Yet what I observe, repeatedly, is not hopelessness but resolve. You represent the future of this province and this nation. In this outbreak, you have a crucial role to fulfill. Speak with your friends and your families. Share what you understand about Ebola. Assist in breaking the fear and the silence that enable this virus to propagate. Your voice carries farther than you realize, and we require it now more than ever.
And to the health workers of Ituri, I wish to convey this: you are recognized, and you are not isolated. Every day you go to work aware of the dangers, and you proceed regardless. You do it for your patients, for your communities, for your families. You form the foundation of this response. Without you, none of this is achievable. I recognize the conditions are tough. I recognize the resources are frequently insufficient. I recognize that fear and exhaustion are genuine. Please understand that WHO stands with you, that we are striving to provide the support you require, and that your bravery and commitment are acknowledged and profoundly valued beyond the boundaries of this province.
I also recognize that the security situation in parts of this region continues to be extremely challenging. Conflict and displacement complicate everything, including reaching individuals who require care and ensuring health workers' safety. I wish to be transparent: this is among our greatest hurdles. We cannot perform this work if those attempting to assist are hindered or placed in harm's way. We are collaborating closely with all relevant partners to guarantee that the response can reach every community in need, and that no one is left behind due to their location or surrounding events.
That is why today I am issuing a direct plea to all warring parties in this region: please, declare a ceasefire. Even briefly. Even just enough to permit health workers to pass. People are dying from Ebola who do not have to die. Children are ill. Families are suffering. No cause, no conflict, no grievance justifies condemning innocent people to death from a preventable disease. A ceasefire, even a temporary one, would preserve lives. I urge you, I implore you: provide us the opportunity to assist those who need it most.
I also recognize that there is anger and mistrust in some communities, and I comprehend why. Trust must be gained, it cannot be presumed. We have not always acted correctly. But I assure you, we are here to learn as much as we are here to assist.
I need to be honest with you about something significant. Most previous Ebola outbreaks in DRC were caused by a virus called Ebola Zaire, for which we possess vaccines and treatments. This outbreak is caused by a different virus called Ebola Bundibugyo. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for it. This is serious, and you deserve to hear that clearly. But I also want you to understand this: while there are no specific treatments for Bundibugyo, there is much we can accomplish together to prevent the spread of this virus and save lives. Early supportive care in our treatment centers can make a real difference. If you or someone you know becomes ill, please do not delay. Coming forward early can determine the difference between life and death. And everything we do, we will do with you. We will listen to you, we will share information with you, and we are here to assist. And for those we cannot save, we will mourn with you. We will help you grieve your lost loved ones with safe and dignified burials.
We are operating under the guidance of the Government of DRC, together with all relevant partners, united around one objective: to halt this outbreak and protect your communities. No one is working alone. No one is working at cross purposes. We are coordinated, we are dedicated, and we are here.
That is why I am coming to Bunia. I will be there in person, alongside my colleagues, meeting your leaders, listening to your concerns, and doing everything in my power to assist you. I will not be managing this from a comfortable office far away.
This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC. Together, you have overcome every single one before. That is not a minor achievement. That is a testament to the strength and resilience of your communities. I have witnessed that strength with my own eyes.
My brothers and sisters of Ituri, I want you to understand that the world is observing your bravery. You are not forgotten. Together, we will overcome this outbreak, as you have overcome every challenge before. Your resilience is the light that guides us all.
We will get through this one too. Not because of anyone, but because of you.
Our teams are already on the ground, and they will remain for as long as needed. And when this outbreak is over, we will not quietly disappear. We will not forget you. We will stay, and we will continue working with you to build health systems that protect every person in every community.
I look forward to seeing you in Bunia soon. Until then, please know that you are in my thoughts.
With respect and solidarity,
Paluku
Tedros
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director-General, World Health Organization