Pascaline Namegabe, Oxfam Public Health Officer, demonstrating a hand washing stand to the community. Image: Arlette Bashizi/Oxfam
Crisis in the DRC
Oxfam has worked in DRC since 1961 and currently operates in several provinces including Equateur, North Kivu and South Kivu.
We are no longer raising funds for this appeal, but you can donate to our Emergency Response Fund, which we can use to respond to crises like mpox, conflict, and climate disasters around the world.
Working closely with the national authorities and partners, Oxfam is mounting an immediate response to the mpox outbreak in Equateur. The province is the most affected by the highly contagious disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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What's happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) because of armed conflict. More than 25 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
An mpox outbreak has reached alarming levels in the DRC, with thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths reported across the country since the beginning of the year.
Working with communities and partners in response to the Ebola epidemic before the mpox outbreak Oxfam had already:
- Chlorinated hundreds of water points to make sure they are safe.
- Put up hand washing stations at busy, communal areas in camps for people forced to flee their homes.
- Talked with communities about the risks of Ebola and how to prevent transmission.
- Provided seeds for crops and run ‘cash for work’ programs for the most at risk families.
With the national authorities and with partners, Oxfam’s mpox response aims to support tens of thousands of people with hygiene and prevention awareness, and clean water and sanitation. And to work with communities and health institutions in the province. It will also build on work in North Kivu and South Kivu.