Funeral Chaos in Eastern DR Congo Leaves Four Red Cross Volunteers Injured

(MENAFN) Four Red Cross volunteers suffered serious injuries after tensions escalated during the burial of an Ebola victim in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to reports released Tuesday.

The incident unfolded Monday at a cemetery in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, when a funeral gathering descended into disorder. Reports indicated that a group of youths attempted to open the coffin of the deceased despite health protocols requiring strict safety measures for Ebola-related burials.

According to reports, the confrontation began when several acquaintances of the deceased and members of the local community insisted on seeing the body before burial. Concerns over whether their relative was actually inside the casket reportedly fueled the demands.

“Shortly before the burial, some colleagues of the deceased as well as young people from the community demanded that the casket be opened. They wanted to make sure that the body of their loved one was actually present. When Red Cross workers in charge of ensuring a safe burial refused, the situation quickly escalated into physical violence,” the report said, citing eyewitnesses.

The dispute quickly turned violent after Red Cross personnel declined to violate established Ebola burial procedures, leaving four volunteers seriously hurt.

As of Tuesday, there had been no public response from the Red Cross in Congo regarding the incident.

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