Ituri: WHO reaffirms support to authorities following health situation assessment

Bunia, May 13^th, 2026 (CPA).– The World Health Organization (WHO), through its acting country representative in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reaffirmed on Tuesday in Bunia its support following an assessment of the health situation in Ituri province, in eastern DRC, after a meeting with the military governor. “We are here on an assessment mission. We already have a team working in Ituri in close coordination with provincial authorities (…) I reaffirm WHO’s commitment to continue its support in Ituri alongside local authorities. WHO is and will remain present in Ituri to continue supporting the authorities in this task,” said Dr Anne Ancia. She added that the mission is part of the follow-up on WHO interventions in a province facing persistent health challenges, particularly linked to insecurity, population displacement, and limited access to healthcare services in certain areas. Recently arrived in the DRC, the UN agency official said the mission aims to better understand field realities in order to adapt humanitarian and health interventions to the population’s needs. “I came to assess the health situation of the population, the needs, and the challenges faced by my teams,” she said. On the ground, WHO already operates teams in Bunia and Aru, responsible notably for epidemiological surveillance and health alert management in a region regularly exposed to epidemic risks. The official praised cooperation with provincial authorities, which she described as essential for the implementation of public health activities. “The provincial authority welcomed us very well, with a warm reception and a very clear explanation of the situation,” she noted. However, she highlighted that population displacement and cases of looting of health facilities remain major challenges, affecting access to healthcare in several areas of the province.