World Humanitarian Day: Between war, Ebola and hope in DR Congo

Disease outbreaks shape life in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Cholera, measles, malnutrition, and the effects of ongoing violence define daily life for many families. Since May 2026, a new Ebola outbreak has made the situation even worse.

Eustache is visiting project beneficiaries in the field in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

On World Humanitarian Day, 19 August, CBM draws attention to the people who continue to help in crisis areas despite all the risks.

“A working day here in Goma means dealing with war, insecurity, and great hardship,” says 31-year-old Eustache, a father of three. Yet he hardly knows life any other way. “I was born in war. I grew up in war.”

Life with fear and a mission

For the 31-year-old, aid work is more than a job.

“I do not only work to help. For me, it is a constant duty,” he says. “I have a responsibility to contribute. It has become a mission.”

Eustache speaks openly about how close the crisis has come to his own life again and again. In 2025, he even considered leaving Goma because of the war.

“I was locked inside the house with my small family for four days because Goma was bombed for four days. There was war, and it was very bad. There was no electricity, no internet.”

Despite this experience, he stayed. He lives in Goma with his wife and three children. Worrying about his family is part of everyday life for him, especially when the children go to school or church.

Local expertise, supported from Germany

CBM works with local project partners in the region. The focus is on prevention, food security, water, hygiene and sanitation, as well as the protection and participation of persons with disabilities.

Every day, Eustache sees how important this support is in a crisis region.

“I have experienced several epidemics myself,” he says. “I work for CBM, which has the necessary resources, and I lead a team that can help others. That is why, for me, it is both a duty and a mission. It has become a passion.”

Mistrust makes aid harder

The work is difficult not only because of the security situation. Reservations among parts of the population also make aid efforts harder.

“Many people say Ebola does not exist,” Eustache reports. Some believe the disease was invented to exploit the poor population. This repeatedly leads to protests. In some places, treatment centres are even attacked.

As a result, aid itself becomes a risk. It endangers not only sick people but also aid workers.

At the same time, there is hope. People who receive medical help early can survive. Survivors leaving treatment centres show that this is possible.

For Eustache and many others, this is the hope that keeps them going.

Inclusive Humanitarian Action