News About Congo

Health Alert - U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (March 19, 2020)

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (March 19, 2020)

 
Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) 
 
Event: The DRC Ministry of Health confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the DRC.
The government of the DRC has implemented measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. Schools and universities are closed until April 17, sporting events in stadiums and gyms are suspended, gatherings and celebrations larger than 20 people are banned, and bars and restaurants are closed until further notice. 
The government of the DRC has implemented enhanced screening and quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice. U.S. citizens who are considering returning to the United States are urged to work with their airlines to make travel arrangements while flights are still available. Effective March 20, the DRC has barred all flights arriving from unspecified “high-risk countries.” Only cargo flights and boats will be permitted entry. 
U.S. citizens who are considering returning to the United States are urged to work with their airlines to make travel arrangements while flights are still available.  
All travelers entering the DRC who have a fever will be tested, and any persons positive for COVID-19 will be hospitalized at DRC government expense. Both categories will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. All persons traveling domestically from Kinshasa to other provinces will be subject to preventative screening.
 
On March 14, the Department of State authorized the departure from any diplomatic or consular post in the world of US personnel and family members who have been medically determined to be at higher risk of a poor outcome if exposed to COVID-19.
Effective March 17, U.S. Embassy Kinshasa has suspended routine consular services. For emergency American Citizens Services, including emergency passports, please visit our website for additional information.
Actions to Take 
· Visit the U.S. Embassy’s Medical Assistance page to find medical provider information in the DRC. 
· Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information. 
· For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations. 
· Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information. 
· Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions. 
· Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in the DRC. 
· Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States. 

Assistance 
· U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo 
310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa/Gombe 
+243 81-556-0151/0152 
· [email protected]
· https://cd.usembassy.gov/ 
· State Department – Consular Affairs +1 888-407-4747 or +1 202-501-4444 
· Democratic Republic of Congo Country Information 
· Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates. 
· Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo’s Meeting with DRC President Tshisekedi

Last April, they met. And again today!

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo’s Meeting with DRC President Tshisekedi

03/03/2020 12:02 PM EST

Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus:‎
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met with Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi today in Washington, DC. Secretary Pompeo and President Tshisekedi discussed strengthened ties between the United States and the DRC in the year since the country’s historic peaceful transfer of power. They pledged to work together to advance the U.S.-DRC Privileged Partnership for Peace and Prosperity which launched after President Tshisekedi visited Washington D.C. last April.
Secretary Pompeo expressed support for President Tshisekedi’s reform agenda to tackle corruption, strengthen democratic institutions, improve human rights, end impunity, combat trafficking in persons, and promote peace in eastern DRC. The Secretary also reiterated our steadfast support for Congolese efforts to end the ongoing Ebola outbreak and to enhance partnership on the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).
Both leaders expressed hope that the DRC can continue a positive trajectory and realize its vast potential
 




Stay connected with the State Department:

Demonstration Alert - U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (07 February 2020)

Demonstration Alert - U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (07 February 2020)
Location: Limete (a quarter of Kinshasa)
Event: The U.S. Embassy has received several reports that members of Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) are protesting in Limete, in the vicinity of Boulevard Lumumba. The highest concentration of activity is occurring between 7e Rue and 12e Rue.  
Protestors are intentionally slowing traffic along Blvd Lumumba, throwing rocks at vehicles, burning tires in the road, and some attempts to set vehicles on fire have been reported. The U.S. Embassy is advising its personnel to avoid all travel on Blvd Lumumba and avoid Limete until the protests subside. The Embassy is diverting its trips to the airport to Route des Poids-Lourds. Rte des Poids-Lourds has, so far, remained clear of trouble and protest activity. Please remember crowds can be unpredictable and violence may spread with little or no notice.
Actions to Take:

         Avoid crowds and demonstrations.
         Monitor local media for updates.
         Be aware of your surroundings.

Assistance:

         U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: +243 81-556-0151/152
         [email protected]
         

https://cd.usembassy.gov/

State Department – Consular Affairs: +1 888-407-4747 or +1 202-501-4444
         Democratic Republic of Congo Country Information
         Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates.
         Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Security Alert - U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Heightened Middle East Tensions (07 January 2020)

Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo 

 
Event: Heightened Middle East Tensions
 
There is heightened tension in the Middle East that may result in security risks to U.S. citizens abroad. 
 
The Embassy will continue to review the security situation and will provide additional information as needed. 
  
Actions to Take: 
  
· Keep a low profile. 
· Be aware of your surroundings. 
· Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists 
· Review your personal security plans.  
· Have travel documents up to date and easily accessible.  
      
Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: +243 81-556-0151/152
[email protected]

https://cd.usembassy.gov/

State Department – Consular Affairs: +1 888-407-4747 or +1 202-501-4444
Democratic Republic of Congo Country Information
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Have you heard about Ebola in DR Congo?

Impact of Ebola outbreak in Eastern DR Congo

















































The Democratic Republic of the Congo is grappling with the world’s second largest Ebola epidemic on record, with more than 2000 lives lost and 3000 confirmed infections since the outbreak was declared in August 2018. The outbreak is occurring in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces.

At Mavuno we have lost 2 of our partners to Ebola in Mangina and Mangango. In Mangina we lost a member of the Grassroots Organization and in Mangango we lost a member who was also the secretary of the Grassroots Organization and principal of the local elementary school. Additionally, many of our local partners have lost their family members and friends. Culturally, during mourning, communities grieve alongside the families that have lost loved ones. Out of respect, there is no farming activitiy during this this time. As a result, weeks, and in some areas, months, will go by without any farming activities as they mourn multiple deaths in the same community. This is resulting in low agricultural productivity across the region. 

Grassroots Organizations activities
It has been challenging to have people participate in the GO meetings or trainings on a regular basis. In fact, malaria is a recurring disease in the region and has some similar symptoms with Ebola (high fever, headache, vomiting, etc.). If a member of a GO or his/her family member has such symptoms, there will be Ebola suspicions and other GO members will choose to stay away from them.   
Handshaking is the common way to greet each other but for the last 12 months, to prevent the spread of Ebola, people are no longer shaking hands. Even in churches, where holding or shaking hands is a sign of peace during the Lord’s Prayer, is no longer a practice. Everybody is is keeping their hands to themselves out of caution.

What are we doing
In all of our training activities, Ebola is the first chapter. We are educating communities about preventive measures such as refraining from handshaking during the epidemic, washing hands thoroughly and frequently, avoiding bush meat, and avoiding physical contact with infected people or those showing Ebola symptoms, etc.





















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Mavuno staff interviewed about Ebola outbreak
























The impact of Ebola Outbreak in Eastern DR Congo



















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Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (September 5, 2019)

 

Location: Congo’s Nord-Kivu, Ituri, and Sud-Kivu Provinces

 
Event: To control the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) authorities continue to establish health check points throughout the Nord-Kivu, Ituri, and Sud-Kivu Provinces, including in the cities of Goma, Beni, and Butembo and in Virunga National Park. New checkpoints may be created with little notice.
 
You may encounter health checkpoints at the land border crossing connecting Goma, DRC to Gisenyi, Rwanda at the pedestrian (Petite Barrière) and vehicular (Grande Barrière) crossing points. These checks may slow border crossings. 
 
There are at least three health checkpoints in Virunga National Park set up by the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) at the Rwindi bridge on the Goma-Butembo axis in Rutshuru territory, at the Semuliki bridge, and Kambo ferry in Beni territory.   
 
Over 3,000 cases of Ebola Virus Disease and 2,000 deaths have been confirmed in the three provinces of Nord-Kivu, Ituri, and Sud-Kivu in the DRC since the first confirmed case was reported in August, 2018. In August 2019, cases were confirmed in Mwenga, Sud-Kivu.  
 
The CDC issued a Level 2 Travel Notice for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. EVD is one of the hemorrhagic fever illnesses. It is transmitted through direct contact with infected persons or their blood, bodily fluids and secretions; through direct contact (handling or washing) with infected corpses; or through contact with objects that have been in contact with infected secretions. 
 
Actions to Take:
 
Be prepared to stop at all checkpoints, follow the instructions of authorities, and experience delays in travel. 
 
Provide for extra time to clear health checks at the Goma International Airport.
 
Follow instructions of authorities at all health checkpoints, which may include temperature testing, handwashing, and personal registration. Expect waits and exercise patience at all checkpoints.
 
Always carry a local identification or your passport with a valid DRC visa in case you are stopped at a checkpoint.
 
Take active steps – including malaria prophylaxis – to avoid malaria and other insect-borne and gastrointestinal illnesses that may mimic EVD symptoms and lead to preventable health scares.
 
Check that your international medical and evacuation insurance is current. If suspected to have Ebola, you could face quarantine and extremely expensive medical costs.
 
Visit the CDC Travelers' Health Page and the CDC Travel Notice on Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has information on this outbreak and advice on further steps to take.
 
See the State Department's travel website and Country Specific Information for the DRC. 
 
Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: +243 81-556-0151/152
[email protected]

https://cd.usembassy.gov/

The New Humanitarian | A year into Congo’s Ebola epidemic and no end in sight

Here's the alarming facts of the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo. "It’s the rate of spread in northeastern Congo that is most alarming. Whereas the first 1,000 cases took 224 days to arrive, it took only another 71 days to reach the 2,000 mark."

http://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2019/08/01/year-congo-s-ebola-epidemic-and-no-end-sight

The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo shows no sign of slowing, a year after the outbreak was declared, on 1 August 2018. To date there have been 2,593 cases and more than 1,700 confirmed deaths. It’s the rate of spread in northeastern Congo that is most alarming. Whereas the first 1,000 cases took 224 days to arrive, it took only another 71 days to reach the 2,000 mark.

Rwanda Closes Border With Congo Over Ebola Fears - The New York Times

The war against Ebola is ramping up. And Rwanda tries to protect itself by closing it's border.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/01/world/africa/ebola-congo-rwanda.html

Rwanda closed its border with Congo on Thursday in response to the deadly Ebola outbreak, while the Congolese Health Ministry said the 1-year-old daughter of a man who had died of the disease in the border city of Goma had Ebola.The man was Goma’s second confirmed Ebola case, and he died on Wednesday after spending several days at home with his family while showing symptoms.The girl’s case would be the first known transmission of Ebola in this outbreak in Goma, a city of more than two million on the Rwandan border that is a major transit hub and thousands of people cross the border on foot daily.

Congo Official Says 2nd Ebola Victim in Goma Has Died - The New York Times

"A man who became the second confirmed Ebola case in the Congolese city of Goma has died, an official said on Wednesday.

The city of more than two million people had its first confirmed case earlier this month, with the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak in history declared a rare global health emergency days after the first Goma case was announced."

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/world/africa/congo-officials-say-second-ebola-case-confirmed-in-city-of-goma.html

This Ebola Outbreak Could Be Worse than 2014. We Need to Act | Time

"Imagine a firefighter battling a blaze while the sprinkler system emits gasoline. This is the current state of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)."

Gayle E. Smith is former administrator of USAID and president and CEO of The ONE Campaign.

https://time.com/5627405/ebola-congo-outbreak-goma-rwanda-border/

"So far, over 1,600 people have died from the virus and thousands more have been infected.While this outbreak is not yet at the scale of the last Ebola crisis that claimed more than 11,000 lives, it has the potential to be even deadlier.
With each passing day, the virus keeps spreading. This week, the first case of Ebola was discovered in Goma, a transportation hub on the border of Rwanda. In order to keep pace with the virus, the United States and the international community must start treating this outbreak like the crisis it is."