DRC: Over 180 children dead in Ebola outbreak as thousands need mental health support

BUNIA, DRC (July 22, 2026) – At least 189 children have died in the latest Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).^[1] Thousands more are living with fear and trauma and in need of mental health support, Save the Children said.

More than 4,000 children in Ituri, the epicenter of the outbreak, are receiving mental health and psychosocial support from Save the Children, which has set up safe spaces where children struggling with grief and anxiety can play, relax and start to recover.

Save the Children staff in Ituri said the disease has changed how some children are interacting with each other and with adults, with many now avoiding close contact and keeping their distance from others.

The outbreak has taken a devastating toll on children since it was declared in May. Some 476 children are confirmed to have contracted the disease with more than 189 children dying, accounting for over 20% of confirmed deaths, according to the latest DRC Ministry of Health data.^[1]

Save the Children staff said many children were living in fear after witnessing illness and death in their communities. Others are expected to require temporary care outside their families after being separated from their parents or caregivers due to caregiver illness, abandonment, isolation or death.

Anxiety among children and families is widespread, with many worried about whether children will be able to return to school when they reopen in September as new cases of Ebola continue to emerge.

For children already displaced by conflict in DRC, the outbreak has created a second crisis, leaving many feeling fearful, anxious and hopeless.

Save the Children is operating over 18 permanent and mobile child-friendly spaces in Ituri, where more than 4,000 children attend newly established safe spaces to take part in activities such as storytelling, educational songs, reading and writing, drawing, clay modeling and relaxation exercises.

Through games, art and guided discussions, children are supported to process difficult experiences, build resilience and reconnect with their peers. Due to the Ebola outbreak, activities have been adapted to ensure they can be implemented safely, with appropriate infection prevention and control measures, including enhanced hygiene and physical distancing protocols.

Dr Babou Rukengeza, Save the Children’s Ebola Response Lead in the DRC, said:  

"Children in Ituri are carrying an enormous emotional burden. Many have witnessed violence, lost loved ones because of the Ebola outbreak or lived through repeated displacement. Child-friendly spaces give them a safe environment where they can express themselves, rebuild confidence and simply be children again.

“Children demonstrate a natural ability to successfully cope with distress, depending on their age, developmental stage, disability status and access to basic and survival needs. Yet, receiving adequate social-emotional and responsive care from a constant caregiver is key to avoiding immediate and detrimental effects on children and adolescent’s development, well-being and mental health.”

Save the Children said the effects of prolonged stress and distress during childhood can extend far beyond the immediate crisis. Without adequate support, repeated exposure to adversity can have lasting consequences for children's cognitive development, emotional wellbeing and long-term physical and mental health.

As the outbreak continues, Save the Children is calling on the international community to increase funding for child protection and mental health and psychosocial support services as needs continue to outpace available resources in eastern DRC.

In the DRC, Save the Children partners with 13 local organizations, as well as international agencies and government authorities, to deliver lifesaving support in health, nutrition, education, child protection, food security, water, sanitation, and hygiene for children and their families.

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Notes:

[1] According to data from the DRC Ministry of Health released July 18 - SitRep N°065/MVB_18/07/2026 – National Institute of Public Health