Direct Relief ramps up South Sudan preparedness

Direct Relief said on August 5 that it is backing Ebola preparedness work in South Sudan’s high-risk border areas as the Bundibugyo-virus outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda continues to drive cross-border response efforts. The aid group said its support includes personal protective equipment, infection-prevention supplies and oral rehydration salts for the International Organization for Migration, alongside community-awareness work near the DRC border. WHO says the 2026 outbreak was confirmed in DRC and Uganda in May and involves a species of Ebola for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment. ### Why is South Sudan part of an Ebola story centered in Congo and Uganda? WHO said South Sudan is among the countries at risk from cross-border spread as the outbreak unfolds amid high population and trade movements across the region. The agency said community engagement and cross-border preparedness are central parts of the response. A South Sudan preparedness update posted on ReliefWeb on May 31 said the country remained at high risk of Ebola importation because of the evolving Bundibugyo outbreak in DRC and Uganda. (directrelief.org) IOM has also described its South Sudan work as part of a broader mobility-focused response across affected and at-risk countries. ### What is Direct Relief actually doing on the ground? (who.int) Direct Relief said its latest South Sudan support was delivered through two donations to IOM last month, including PPE, infection-prevention supplies and oral rehydration salts for four primary health facilities and border posts. The group said the work is meant to support early detection and preparedness rather than treatment of confirmed Ebola cases inside South Sudan, where its August 5 report said no confirmed cases had been found among screened border crossers. (reliefweb.int) The organization said its wider Ebola response has also included shipments into DRC, including more than a quarter million N95 respirators and other medical supplies announced in June. Direct Relief regional director for Africa Jeffrey Samuel said in that June 15 update that an Ebola response has to contain the virus while keeping broader health services functioning. ### What does the border work look like in practice? (directrelief.org) IOM’s August account from South Sudan said nurse Bilali Emmanuel David Lingo and colleagues screen travelers for fever and other symptoms at crossings into South Sudan from DRC. Direct Relief’s August 5 report said IOM screened about 700,000 people at South Sudan border posts in the first two months after the outbreak was reported in May and reached nearly half a million people with Ebola-awareness messages. (directrelief.org) The same report said people with possible symptoms are isolated and samples are sent for testing, while local staff are trained in infection prevention and control. Lingo said some travelers initially resisted screening, but that “through proper education, patience and awareness,” mistrust had started to change. ### Why does Direct Relief emphasize trust and community awareness? WHO said community engagement will be key to controlling the outbreak, and Direct Relief’s August 5 report framed mistrust as a practical obstacle at border crossings and in nearby communities. (southsudan.iom.int) The report said awareness work includes explaining symptoms, countering disbelief that Bundibugyo Ebola is real and building cooperation with families, traders and other travelers. (directrelief.org) IOM said in a July 14 South Sudan story that early engagement was shaped by fear, uncertainty and limited accurate knowledge about Ebola within communities. That account aligns with Direct Relief’s description of awareness work as part of preparedness, not an add-on to the medical response. ### What are the operational constraints in South Sudan? Direct Relief’s August 5 report said South Sudan is one of the world’s most dangerous places for humanitarian workers and cited U.N. figures showing 29 aid workers and contractors were killed there in the first half of 2026. (who.int) Amber Lynn Christino, IOM South Sudan’s communications focal person, said humanitarian access is limited in many parts of the country because of insecurity and ongoing violence. (southsudan.iom.int) IOM and other agencies are continuing preparedness work at border posts and health facilities as the regional Ebola response expands. Direct Relief’s Ebola response page lists the August 5 South Sudan update as its latest posting on the outbreak, while WHO continues to publish guidance and outbreak updates for the DRC-led emergency. (directrelief.org 1) (directrelief.org 2)