A six-year-old child who was abducted from an Ebola treatment centre in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been found safe, local authorities have confirmed. The child, who had tested positive for the virus, was taken from a facility in Beni, North Kivu province, in what officials describe as a premeditated attack by unidentified assailants.
The abduction occurred in the early hours of Monday, when armed men stormed the hospital, overpowering security personnel. They specifically targeted the paediatric ward, seizing the minor before fleeing the scene. The incident prompted a large-scale search operation involving Congolese armed forces, police, and humanitarian workers.
By Tuesday evening, the child was located in a neighbouring district, unharmed. Health officials have since placed the child under strict isolation to prevent further transmission of the virus. The motive behind the abduction remains unclear, but sources suggest it may be linked to community mistrust of medical interventions, a persistent challenge in the region.
North Kivu has been at the epicentre of one of the worst Ebola outbreaks in history, with over 2,000 confirmed cases since August 2018. The outbreak has been complicated by armed conflict and pockets of resistance to public health measures, including vaccination campaigns. WHO teams and local medical staff often operate under significant security risks.
In a statement, the World Health Organization welcomed the child’s safe return and reiterated its commitment to protecting vulnerable patients. “This incident underscores the volatility of the operational environment in eastern DRC,” a WHO spokesperson said. “Our priority remains the health and safety of affected communities, and we call on all parties to respect medical neutrality.”
The abduction is the latest in a series of attacks on health workers in the region. Last year, two Ebola responders were killed in a militia raid on a health centre in Biakato. Humanitarian access remains constrained by insecurity, hampering efforts to contain the disease.
The child’s family has been informed, and psychosocial support is being provided. Authorities have stepped up security at health facilities in the area. Investigations into the abduction are ongoing.
