Ebola Outbreak: Artisanal Miners Continue Gold Digging Despite Deadly Virus Risk

Artisanal miners in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) are continuing to work in gold mines despite the growing risk of Ebola, as poverty and displacement leave many with few alternatives for survival.

In Iga-Barrière, miners say they are caught between the need to earn money for food and rent and the danger of contracting a virus that is spreading rapidly across the region.

Many miners earn only a few dollars a day. Some are internally displaced people who have fled years of conflict and now depend on small-scale mining to support themselves and their families.

Miners Struggle Amid Ebola Outbreak

Miner Mechac Ngadjole Katavara said he has lost 13 members of his family and is struggling to access medical treatment and vaccination.

“The authorities don’t know what to do about this Ebola virus disease,” Katavara said, adding that he lacks disinfectant and other basic protective materials.

“We are displaced by war and life is difficult. That is why we have to work under these conditions,” he added.

Another miner, Daniel Ndjalenga Musingo, said he has been working at the Iga-Barrière mine for about a month.

He said he tries to maintain distance from other miners and avoids shaking hands because of the disease’s spread in surrounding communities.

Musingo is calling for an Ebola treatment centre to be established closer to the mining area, saying patients currently face long journeys for medical care.

“Patients die on the road while being evacuated to Bunia. If the Ebola treatment center was nearby, people could receive care quickly and recover,” he said.

Mining Makes Ebola Containment More Difficult

Artisanal gold mining relies on a highly mobile workforce. Miners frequently move between remote mining sites and population centres to search for gold and trade their findings.

Health officials say this movement makes it more difficult to identify infected people, trace contacts and prevent further transmission.

Community mistrust and misinformation have also complicated the Ebola response, although many miners say they are aware of the danger posed by the virus.

According to a 2024 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), about two million people work in artisanal and small-scale mining across DR Congo.

Gold, coltan, tin and tungsten are among the valuable minerals extracted in the country’s east, a region that has experienced decades of conflict and economic hardship.

Poverty Forces People to Take Risks

For many miners, however, the choice is not simply between working and staying safe.

Esperance Acheni Nyango, who comes from Ladile, said people in her community are dying in large numbers. Despite fearing Ebola herself, she continues to work because she needs money to feed her children and pay rent.

“If I can earn even 10,000 francs ($4.36) so the children can eat, it helps,” she said.

Her situation reflects the difficult reality facing many people in eastern Congo, where conflict, displacement, poverty and disease have combined to leave vulnerable communities with few options.

Vaccines Arrive as Health Response Intensifies

Health authorities and international partners are increasing efforts to contain the outbreak, with vaccine supplies beginning to arrive in the country.

A shipment of 16,250 doses reportedly arrived at N’djili International Airport in Kinshasa, as part of an expected 70,000 doses being supplied by the World Health Organization and its partners.

More doses are expected as vaccination and other response activities expand.

However, the continued movement of miners and other residents between affected communities remains a major challenge.

For people such as Katavara, Musingo and Nyango, the immediate priority remains survival.

Until safer economic opportunities and accessible healthcare become available, many are likely to continue entering the mines despite the risks posed by Ebola.