Former Fighters in Ituri Lead Ebola Prevention Efforts with MONUSCO Support

In Tchomia, a town 65 kilometres south of Bunia in the Ituri province, 32 community mobilisers—27 of whom are former combatants who have been demobilised under the Programme de désarmement, démobilisation, relèvement communautaire et stabilisation (P‑DDRCS)—are actively educating residents about Ebola. The initiative, run by the NGO Hope for Peace and Development (HPD) and the network of associations for sustainable development (RAD ASBL), receives backing from MONUSCO’s Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration and Stabilisation Section (DDR‑S). Prior to deployment, the mobilisers received specialised training on prevention measures, early case detection and community outreach. They now visit high‑traffic areas such as the central market, town centre, restaurants and the provender site, urging hand‑washing, rapid symptom identification and prompt reporting to health services. In addition to health work, a professional training programme will soon be launched for 233 beneficiaries—including 87 ex‑combatants and 146 community members, 66 of whom are vulnerable women—focusing on modern food‑processing techniques for fish, poultry and other livestock. This dual approach aims to build local economic resilience, reduce reliance on imported feed, and reinforce the role of ex‑combatants as positive community actors, thereby supporting social reintegration and regional stability.