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]
Symbol: S/RES/2439 (2018)
Date: 2018-10-30
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/73 [228] EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE
S/73 [102] DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO SITUATION
S/73 [104] UN ORGANIZATION STABILIZATION MISSION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
S/ X Peace and security in Africa.
Subjects: UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|WHO|INTERNAL SECURITY|EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE|EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES|DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO|DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO SITUATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BOLIVIA (PLURINATIONAL STATE OF)
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CÔTE D'IVOIRE
vote: yes
country: EQUATORIAL GUINEA
vote: yes
country: ETHIOPIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: KAZAKHSTAN
vote: yes
country: KUWAIT
vote: yes
country: NETHERLANDS
vote: yes
country: PERU
vote: yes
country: POLAND
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SWEDEN
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                  S/RES/2439 (2018)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                30 October 2018




               Resolution 2439 (2018)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 8385th meeting, on
               30 October 2018

                    The Security Council,
                     Expressing grave concern about the most recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in
               the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the fact that this epidemic is occurring
               in the context of much wider humanitarian needs, in a country whose people have
               suffered from the recurrence of the disease, armed conflict and violence for the last
               few decades,
                      Recognizing the recurring threat of the Ebola virus in the region since it was
               first discovered in 1976 and recalling its Resolution 2177 (2014) concerning the 2014
               Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa,
                    Recalling its determination in resolution 2409 (2018) that the situation in the
               DRC continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region,
               and expressing concern that this security situation negatively impacts the ability to
               respond to and contain the outbreak of the Ebola virus,
                      Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and
               territorial integrity of the DRC and all States in the region, and emphasizing the need
               for cooperation and coordination with the DRC to address the Ebola situation, as well
               as with the States in the region, as appropriate,
                    Noting the reports presented to the Security Council on 28 August and on
               3 October 2018 by the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO),
                    Commending the Government of the DRC for its leadership in responding to the
               Ebola outbreak, particularly for providing free healt h care in affected health zones,
               as well as for its daily reporting on the status of the outbreak,
                     Expressing appreciation for the efforts of all humanitarian and health workers
               on the ground, including the WHO and its partners in the Global Outbreak Aler t and
               Response Network, as well as all other front-line actors involved in the response
               effort,
                    Commending the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC
               (MONUSCO) for providing support to the efforts of the government of the DRC, the
               WHO and other actors to respond to the Ebola outbreak in an extremely challenging
               and dangerous environment,




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                     Underscoring the need to address the security situation in the areas affected by
               the disease and condemning all attacks against civilians,
                    Expressing outrage and condemning in the strongest terms the recent attacks and
               the killings of two Congolese health workers attached to a Congolese army unit
               helping to combat the Ebola outbreak in the DRC,
                     Recalling resolution 2286 (2016) and urging all parties to the armed conflict to
               ensure full, safe, immediate and unhindered access for humanitarian personnel and
               medical personnel, to patients and others in need; condemning acts of violence,
               attacks and threats intentionally directed against medical personnel and humanitarian
               personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and
               equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities, exclusively fulfilling a
               medical or humanitarian function, as a violation of international humanitarian law;
               and deploring the long-term consequences of such attacks for the civilian population
               and the health-care system of the DRC,
                     Recalling the International Health Regulations (2005), which are con tributing
               to global public health security by improving the capacity of all countries to detect,
               assess, notify and respond to public health threats, underscoring the importance of
               abiding by these commitments and urging Member States to follow the advice of the
               WHO Director General regarding the current Ebola outbreak,
                     Taking note of the cross-border meeting among east African countries held in
               Entebbe, Uganda, on 3 October 2018, which reviewed the implementation of cross -
               border disease surveillance activities and the status of emergency preparedness
               activities in districts that border the DRC and the East African Community; noting
               the need for awareness creation among district leaders in their roles in implementing
               the IHRs (2005), and drawing attention to large-scale population displacements in the
               region that could contribute to further spread of the Ebola virus,
                    Underscoring that the control of outbreaks of major infectious diseases requires
               urgent action and greater national, regional and international collaboration and, in this
               regard, stressing the crucial and continued need for a WHO coordinated international
               response in the DRC in collaboration with the Government,
                     Commending Member States and multilateral organizations that have provided
               crucial assistance, including financial commitments, technical support and in -kind
               donations, to support the scaling up of emergency efforts to contain the Ebola
               outbreak and interrupt transmission of the virus, including by providing flexible funds
               to relevant UN agencies and international organizations, facilitating a more rapid and
               effective response and enabling them and national governments to purchase supplies
               and enhance emergency operations in the DRC and neighbouring countries, as well
               as by collaborating with public and private sector partners to accelerate development
               of therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics to treat patients and limit or prevent further
               infection or transmission,
                     Welcoming the efforts of the African Union (AU), through the Africa Centr e for
               Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in providing support to the government
               of the DRC, WHO and its partners through a united, comprehensive and collective
               response to the outbreak, including through the deployment of healthcare workers to
               the eastern part of the DRC,
                    Emphasizing the role of all relevant United Nations System entities in
               supporting the national, regional and international efforts to respond to the Ebola
               outbreak, and recognizing in this regard the leading role of the WHO,
                    Taking note of the WHO protocols to prevent the transmission of the Ebola virus
               disease between individuals, organizations and populations, and underlining that the


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           Ebola outbreak can be contained, including through the implementation of established
           safety and health protocols and other preventive measures that have proven effective,
                 1.   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;
                2.    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;
                3.    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;
                 4.    Expresses serious concern regarding the security situation in the areas
           affected by the Ebola outbreak, which is severely ha mpering 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);
                 5.   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;
                  6.    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 Eb ola, 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;
                 7.    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 an d in ensuring, within
           its area of operations, effective protection of civilians;
                 8.   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;
                9.   Emphasizes that men and women are affected differently by the Ebola
           outbreak and underlines that a gender-sensitive response that addresses the specific

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               needs of both men and women is required, and stresses the importance of the full,
               active and meaningful engagement of women in the developme nt of such responses;
                     10. 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 de layed
               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;
                     11. 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;
                    12. 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, a lso
               expresses concern that the overall humanitarian appeal for the DRC remains severely
               underfunded;
                     13. 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;
                    14. 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;
                    15. 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;
                     16. 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 mee t 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;
                    17.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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