After an Ebola centre was attacked, peacekeepers moved in next door

A new mobile UN peacekeeping base in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has allowed local authorities to continue responding to the fast-moving Ebola outbreak there after violence disrupted the work of medics at a treatment centre set up to contain the spread.On 16 July, the UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) deployed the base near the town of Nyakunde, in Ituri Province – allowing ‘blue helmets’ on patrol to better protect hospitals and patients.The base opened one day after a series of incidents shook the community in and around Nyakunde. On 15 July, a group of young people vandalised the local Ebola Treatment Centre. The killing of local militia leader Kakani Tondabo caused clashes that led to the deaths of five others.Since the Congolese Government declared the current Ebola outbreak on 15 May, national health authorities have reported more than 2,500 cases and more than 1,000 deaths.At least a dozen facilities have been attacked, largely due to fear, misinformation and deep community mistrust of outside authorities.MONUSCO said its presence in Marabo – near Nyakunde – has restored calm and allowed residents fleeing violence to return home.“People quickly und...