Congo Mourners Beat 4 Red Cross Volunteers at Ebola Funeral
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 27
Congo Mourners Beat 4 Red Cross Volunteers at Ebola Funeral
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 27
Summary
Four Red Cross volunteers were hospitalized after mourners attacked a funeral team in eastern Congo, accusing workers of bringing Ebola to their town.
61-year-old volunteer Ramazani Bokwandela fled into nearby bushes as stones flew and car windows shattered, then cut off his Red Cross sleeves and disguised himself to escape.
The assault underscores the hostility facing burial teams even as safe funerals remain central to containing the surging outbreak in Ituri province.
Three days later, Bokwandela had returned to work, illustrating how frontline volunteers are continuing Ebola response efforts despite the risk of deadly reprisals.