The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued an urgent humanitarian alert warning that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has separated or orphaned more than 1,900 children since the epidemic was officially declared in May.

According to data compiled alongside provincial social affairs teams, at least 1,900 boys and girls have lost one or both parents, suffered the death of primary caregivers, or become completely separated from their families. The vast majority of these affected children—over 1,500—are located in North Kivu province, which remains the primary epicenter of the public health crisis, while hundreds more reside in neighboring Ituri province.

UNICEF communications officials emphasized that the actual figure is likely higher, as current data only reflects areas where field teams maintain active operational access. Beyond the immediate loss of parental protection, children face acute isolation; when parents contract the virus or pass away, fear and social stigma often deter extended family members and neighbors from stepping in to offer shelter or assistance.

The crisis has taken an exceptionally severe physical toll on young populations. Epidemiological records reveal that over 2,000 children have contracted Ebola in the DRC during this wave, resulting in more than 1,000 child fatalities. Alarmingly, young children under five face a mortality rate of approximately 70 percent, with many dying before accessing formal medical evaluation or specialized treatment centers.

In response, UNICEF is establishing specialized, supported nurseries adjacent to Ebola treatment facilities across affected provinces. These facilities ensure vulnerable infants and uninfected children receive dedicated nutrition, psychological support, continuous health monitoring, and rapid pediatric care, while social workers coordinate long-term family tracing, foster placement, and community reintegration efforts.