This archive report was first published on 16 August 2019.
As of August 4, 2019, the number of children orphaned by Ebola or separated from their parents in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has more than doubled since April, according to the U.N. children's fund, UNICEF.
Since the epidemic was declared over a year ago, aid agencies have registered 1,380 children who have lost one or both parents to Ebola, while nearly 2,470 children have been separated from parents undergoing treatment for the disease or isolated because they have come in contact with an infected person.
World Health Organization figures put the number of Ebola cases at 2,831, including nearly 1,900 deaths, with children making up about 30 percent of the cases, compared to 20 percent in previous epidemics.
UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado emphasized the need for urgent scaling up of specialized services, particularly in Beni, where the largest number of children are affected, citing the need for extensive physical, psycho-social, and social care.
For children with no surviving parents, Mercado said teams work to place them with relatives or foster families, which can be challenging due to economic burdens and fear of contracting the disease.
Stigma against Ebola orphans is pervasive, Mercado noted, with children who have been in contact with someone infected often being rejected by families and communities.
