By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Failure to protect a biomedical laboratory in the embattled city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could lead to unimaginable consequences, the Red Cross has warned.
On Tuesday, the Red Cross in Geneva emphasised the critical importance of safeguarding the facility, which stores samples of the highly dangerous Ebola virus.
Patrick Youssef, the International Committee of the Red Cross’s (ICRC) regional director for Africa, stated that the laboratory, operated by the National Institute for Biomedical Research, is at risk of power outages that could jeopardise the integrity of the stored samples.
The laboratory is situated near the ICRC’s office in Goma. Youssef stressed the necessity of ensuring the virus does not escape from the facility.
There has been an escalation in attacks in Goma by the Kigali-backed M23 rebel group.
Last week, at least 13 peacekeepers and foreign soldiers were killed in the violence, which has displaced thousands of civilians.
The M23 rebel group has seized large swathes of territory along the border with Rwanda in recent weeks, advancing towards the Congolese city of Goma, a regional hub for security and humanitarian operations.
Ebola is a highly contagious and life-threatening infectious disease. The virus is transmitted through direct physical contact and exposure to bodily fluids.
Repeated outbreaks of Ebola have occurred in Congo and other Central and East African countries. During the 2014–2015 outbreak in West Africa, more than 11,000 people lost their lives.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also issued warnings about cholera outbreaks, as displaced people lack access to clean drinking water and sanitation is inadequate.
In response to the attacks, the DRC has severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda, which the US and UN also accuse of backing the rebel group.
