Kinshasa/Nairobi/Geneva, 04 June 2026 - The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has delivered on 3 June a critical shipment of Safe and Dignified Burial (SDB) kits and body bags to Bunia, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the ongoing Ebola outbreak continues to claim lives and strain already fragile health systems.
This shipment was airlifted from Dubai to Entebbe (Uganda) and then departed for Bunia by road on 29 May 2026. It contained 13 SDB kits, supporting approximately 300 safe and dignified burials. The land route from Entebbe to Bunia takes approximately seven days, underscoring the logistical complexity of reaching affected populations in this remote part of the country.
A second shipment, pre-positioned in Kinshasa, is scheduled to arrive in Bunia by air within the week. With the airport now reopened, operational goods can be delivered more quickly. The cargo includes 10 SDB kits and 300 body bags.
These shipments, part of a broader CHF 2.2 million procurement effort, will provide operational equipment needed by Red Cross teams to continue performing safe and dignified burials, one of the most vital tools in containing the spread of Ebola.
“Every Safe and Dignified Burial kit that arrives, and every burial conducted safely and respectfully, helps break a potential chain of transmission. Our volunteers are working in extraordinarily difficult conditions, and they need all the support we can provide, including these supplies, now,” said Bruno Michon, IFRC Ebola response Operations Manager in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Safe and dignified burials are not just a logistical task — they are a frontline public health intervention and an act of respect for families in their most painful moments. Getting these supplies to our teams in eastern DRC is a race against the virus.
The IFRC calls on the international community, donors and partners to support the regional emergency appeal to ensure that communities in DRC and across the region receive the full scope of life-saving assistance they urgently need.
Link to photos: https://shared.ifrc.org/collections/~2e8af4bc27
For more information or to set up an interview contact: [email protected]
In Kinshasa: Catherine Kamatu, +254 728 815 266
In Nairobi: Susan Mbalu, +254 733 827 654
In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa +41 79 708 4367 | Paolo Cravero +41 79 894 8396
About IFRC:
IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, comprising 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies working to save lives, build community resilience, strengthen localization and promote dignity around the world.
