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Anti-Ebola radio in DR Congo closes down after killing
GOMA, DR Congo, Nov 11, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A local radio station that has
been involved in the fight against Ebola in eastern DR Congo said Monday it
was closing down after one of its broadcasters was murdered.
Joel Musavuli, head of Lwemba radio in Mambasa in Ituri province, told AFP
that the station had been targeted by armed groups hostile to the campaign to
roll back the Ebola epidemic.
“Each of us have received threats since last month. We have now decided to
stop broadcasting, Musavuli said, adding that he himself had escaped two
kidnap attempts.
“We are victims of our commitment to the awareness campaign about the
spread of Ebola virus disease. We don’t know why the militiamen are targeting
us.”
Nearly 2,200 people have died since the notorious haemorrhagic disease
erupted in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in August 2018, according to
the latest official figures.
The fight against the outbreak has been hampered by local fears and
superstititions, exploited by militia groups that are rampant in the remote
region.
Several health workers have been killed and media that have supported the
campaign have received threats. Several radio stations in the Mambasa area
say they have stopped broadcasting anti-Ebola messages because of
intimidation.
On November 2, Lwemba broadcaster Papy Mahamba was killed at his home by
unidentified men. His wife was injured and their house set ablaze.
The station said the authorities had failed to take action against the
threats. It said it would resume broadcasts after “the state has restored
authority in the area”.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1820 hrs