Security Council Resolution 2439 (2018) [on Condemning Attacks by Armed Groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Their Role in Exacerbating the Ebola Virus Outbreak]

S/RES/2439 (2018)View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the Security Council, under agenda item 228 Peace and security in Africa, published in 2018.

What subjects does this mandate have?

5 subjects

Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo Situation Ebola Virus Disease Emergency Medical Services Internal Security

What’s in this document?

17 operative paragraphs

Reiterates its deep concern regarding the overall security and humanitarian situation in the DRC, exacerbated by destabilizing activities of foreign and domestic armed groups, recalls the strategic importance of the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the DRC and the region, and reiterates its call to all signatories to fulfil their respective commitments under this Framework in order to address the root causes of conflict and put an end to recurring cycles of violence, and promote lasting regional development;

Encourages the government of the DRC, WHO, and other Ebola responders to continue to improve the transparency and accuracy of the daily reporting on the status of the outbreak;

Recalls that the Government of the DRC bears the primary responsibility to protect civilians within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction, including protection from crimes against humanity and war crimes;

Expresses serious concern regarding the security situation in the areas affected by the Ebola outbreak, which is severely hampering the response efforts and facilitating the spread of the virus in the DRC and the wider region; and calls for immediate cessation of hostilities by all armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF);

Condemns in the strongest terms all attacks by armed groups, including those posing serious security risks for responders and jeopardizing the response to the Ebola outbreak;

Demands that all parties to the armed conflict fully respect international law, including, as applicable, international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including their obligations under the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional Protocols thereto of 1977 and 2005, and further demands that all parties ensure full, safe, immediate and unhindered access for humanitarian and medical personnel, and their equipment, transport and supplies to the affected areas, and to respect and protect all civilians, including those in the region who are at risk of Ebola, and humanitarian and health workers; stresses that humanitarian response teams and hospitals and other medical facilities providing life-saving assistance and relief to those in need must be respected and protected, and that they must not be a target, in accordance with international law;

Notes the important positive role of MONUSCO, within its existing mandate, in supporting the efforts of the government of the DRC, the WHO and other actors to bring the Ebola outbreak successfully under control and in ensuring, within its area of operations, effective protection of civilians;

Emphasizes the need for the Government of the DRC, and all relevant actors providing assistance in response to the Ebola outbreak, to enhance efforts to communicate to the public, as well as to implement, the established safety and health protocols and preventive measures to mitigate against misinformation and undue alarm about the transmission and extent of the outbreak among and between individuals and communities; underscores the need to enhance community engagement working closely with religious leaders, youth and women’s groups and with the families themselves, including in the context of resumed humanitarian assistance efforts;

Emphasizes that men and women are affected differently by the Ebola outbreak and underlines that a gender-sensitive response that addresses the specific needs of both men and women is required, and stresses the importance of the full, active and meaningful engagement of women in the development of such responses;

Stresses the need for continuous and improved surveillance of those who have been in contact with infected people as well as the need for following-up with Ebola survivors, ensuring they are clinically monitored to prevent any delayed clinical manifestations and the risk of sexual transmission of Ebola; underlines the need to provide Ebola survivors with psychological and social support to help them face and overcome possible stigmatization;

Takes note of WHO’s latest assessment of the risk of regional spread and expresses great concern about the potential for the virus to spread into Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi and encourages those governments to continue efforts to prepare for operational readiness, in full cooperation with WHO;

Emphasizes the importance of maintaining international support and engagement — financially, technically and in-kind — to bring the Ebola outbreak successfully under control; stresses in this context the importance of flexible financial support for the response efforts, enabling a more rapid and effective response, also expresses concern that the overall humanitarian appeal for the DRC remains severely underfunded;

Encourages the Government of the DRC and countries of the region to continue efforts to address and resolve the wider political, security, socioeconomic and humanitarian consequences of the Ebola outbreak, as well as to provide sustainable and responsive public health mechanisms;

Requests all relevant parts of the United Nations System to accelerate their response to the Ebola outbreak, within the overall coordination of WHO, including by supporting the development and implementation of preparedness and operational plans and liaison and collaboration with governments of the region and those providing assistance;

Stresses the need for the international community to remain engaged in supporting the strengthening of national health systems, in line with the needs of the government of DRC, which are instrumental in preventing a deterioration of the present crisis or addressing a future recurrence;

Welcomes action and results of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme and encourages the WHO and the whole UN system to build on and benefit from the lessons learned from the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa in 2014, and to continue to further strengthen its technical leadership and operational support, monitor Ebola transmission, assist in identifying existing response needs and partners to meet those needs to facilitate the availability of essential data and hasten the development and implementation of therapies and vaccines according to best clinical and ethical practices;

Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

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