Relief in Ituri as Bunia Airport Reopens Following Ebola-Linked Closure
Written by Ruth Ochi on June 2, 2026
The main airport in Bunia, in Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been reopened after a 10-day closure introduced for safety reasons. The airport had been shut down on May 23, 2026, as authorities responded to an Ebola outbreak affecting the region.
During the shutdown, all commercial flights were suspended, with only medical and humanitarian aircraft allowed to operate. The move was aimed at limiting movement in and out of the Ebola-affected area in eastern DRC, which remains one of the country’s most vulnerable regions due to ongoing conflict and public health challenges.
Health officials say the country is still facing a serious Ebola outbreak, which is believed to have caused at least 246 deaths in both the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda, according to the Africa CDC. This situation has continued to raise concern among health experts and local communities, as efforts are still ongoing to control the spread of the disease and protect more lives. They emphasize that health teams are still closely watching the situation, and important response measures such as screening, testing, and rapid action remain active on the ground to prevent any new infections from spreading further.
