UNHCR Warns of Devastating Impact of Mpox Outbreak on Refugees in DRC and Neighboring Countries

In South Kivu Province, one of the hardest-hit regions in the DRC, at least 42 suspected mpox cases have been identified among the refugee population.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has issued an urgent warning regarding the escalating mpox outbreak, which threatens to devastate refugee and displaced communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other affected African nations. Without immediate international support, the situation could worsen significantly.

In South Kivu Province, one of the hardest-hit regions in the DRC, at least 42 suspected mpox cases have been identified among the refugee population. Similar cases have also been reported among refugees in the Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the DRC has recorded over 18,000 suspected mpox cases and 615 deaths, with more than 220 cases of the new strain, clade 1b, detected in neighboring countries.

The outbreak is particularly alarming in conflict-ridden provinces of the DRC, which host the majority of the country’s 7.3 million internally displaced people. In these regions, the virus poses an additional threat to populations already suffering from decades of conflict, forced displacement, severe human rights abuses, and a lack of international aid.

For those fleeing violence, adhering to mpox prevention measures is an immense challenge. Overcrowded shelters with inadequate water, sanitation, and strained services have become the norm for displaced people, making isolation and hygiene practices difficult to maintain. Insecurity in the region further complicates access to humanitarian assistance, while the delay in rapid testing due to security risks and difficult transportation routes hinders efforts to control the outbreak.

UNHCR, in collaboration with national health authorities and WHO, has increased handwashing facilities in refugee camps and transit centers, and has strengthened health system preparedness and response measures, including screening at camp entrances. In countries where mpox cases among the national population have been confirmed or suspected, information campaigns are being conducted to ensure displaced communities receive accurate information in their native languages. However, the rapid spread of the outbreak has outpaced the availability of community health workers to meet the growing needs.

UNHCR emphasizes the critical need to include refugees and other forcibly displaced people in national preparedness and response efforts to tackle this public health emergency. The agency remains committed to supporting national response plans in affected and at-risk countries and commends the DRC for integrating refugees into its national health response strategies.

Despite these efforts, UNHCR’s humanitarian response in the DRC remains severely underfunded, with only 37 percent of the $250 million needed for 2024 secured. Health activities are among the most underfunded sectors of the plan.

The agency is calling for international solidarity to expand health services, isolation centers, humanitarian shelters, and access to clean water and soap for those displaced by conflict. A sustainable response to stop the spread of mpox also requires urgent efforts to bring peace to conflict zones in the region.