Bunia Locals Reveal How Ebola Fear Is Destroying Livelihoods as Bars Empty and Incomes Collapse in Congo's Outbreak Zone

Bunia Locals Reveal How Ebola Fear Is Destroying Livelihoods as Bars Empty and Incomes Collapse in Congo's Outbreak Zone

The latest Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is creating economic hardship across Bunia, where many residents are limiting social activities and avoiding crowded places. The change in behaviour is affecting businesses that depend on daily customer traffic, leaving workers and small business owners struggling to maintain their incomes. Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, has become the centre of the current Ebola outbre…

Lives and incomes lost as Ebola takes toll on Bunia’s public-facing workers

A headteacher, a motorcycle taxi driver and a travel agent are among those who are counting the human and economic cost of the virusJustin Keno watches more than 400 pupils stream through the Nelson Mandela school’s gate each morning, and wonders which of them might be carrying Ebola.The institution’s principal has done everything he can to prevent the spread of the virus: installing hand-washing basins at the entrance, providing alcohol-based h…