Armed Mai Mai militiamen attacked an Ebola treatment centre at the heart of an outbreak of the disease in eastern Congo on Saturday, killing a policeman before being repelled by security forces.
The centre in Butembo was the same one torched by unknown assailants last week, an attack that prompted Medecins Sans Frontieres, Doctors Without Borders to suspend activities in the area.
Aid workers have faced deep mistrust from locals in some areas as they work to contain the outbreak, which has become the worst in Democratic Republic of Congo’s history, killing close to 600 people so far.
Efforts to contain the virus have been further hampered by a excess of armed groups operating in Congo’s lawless east.
The WHO President, Tedros Ghebreyesus was due to visit the Butembo centre on Saturday. A WHO spokesman said it was unclear if the visit would still happen.
