The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG) raised concern on Friday over continued conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo amid the recent Ebola virus disease outbreak in the country.
The ICG has representatives of Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and US.
In a joint statement, the group said the Ebola outbreak in Congo adds to an already fragile humanitarian situation in the country.
“The ICG urges all parties to the conflict to facilitate efforts to respond to the Ebola outbreak. This threat underscores the importance of regional cooperation to address common challenges,” it said.
The Congo has witnessed a spike in Ebola cases since an outbreak was declared May 15 in Ituri province, and the disease has since spread to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
About 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths have been reported, according to the World Health Organization. At least 82 cases and seven deaths have been confirmed.
