Ebola and Hunger Trap Miners in Eastern Congo

In the gold mines of Iga-Barrière in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the daily calculation is stark: risk exposure to Ebola or go hungry. For the many displaced miners working here, the choice is often made for them by economic necessity.

Mechac Ngadjole Katavara, a miner who has lost 13 family members to the disease, says there is no access to medical treatment or vaccines. "The authorities don't know what to do about this Ebola virus disease," he said, adding that he lacks even basic disinfectant. "We are displaced by war and life is difficult. That is why we have to work under these conditions."

The mining site draws a highly mobile workforce, including many from a nearby makeshift camp for internally displaced people. This constant movement between remote sites and population centers is making it harder for health teams to track infections and trace contacts.

Daniel Ndjalenga Musingo, who has worked at the mine for a month, is calling for an Ebola treatment center in Iga-Barrière. "Patients die on the road while being evacuated to Bunia," he said. "If the ETC was nearby, people could receive care quickly and recover."

Esperance Acheni Nyango, from a village where she says people are dying in large numbers, works to feed her children. "If I can earn even 10,000 francs ($4.36) so the children can eat, it helps," she said. "I am struggling to pay rent."

The current outbreak has recorded 2,557 deaths among 5,375 confirmed cases across six provinces. Data from the Africa Centre for Disease Control suggests transmission has not yet peaked. A first batch of 16,250 vaccine doses arrived in Kinshasa on Friday, part of a larger shipment expected from the WHO and partners.