The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says ongoing violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has displaced civilians and complicated efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak.

The UN agency in a statement on Thursday said that at least 60 civilians were killed in attacks in Mambasa Territory, Ituri Province, since the beginning of September.

“In the neighbouring province of South Kivu, humanitarian partners report that clashes in Fizi Territory have displaced more than 40,000 people since July. In North Kivu, active fighting in parts of the province continues to force families to flee their homes,” the statement read.

The agency added that the developments were unfolding in areas affected by Ebola, where insecurity and population movements continue to hamper surveillance and response efforts.

It noted that as of Monday, national health authorities reported more than 7,300 confirmed cases and over 3,500 deaths.

Despite the challenges, the UN and its humanitarian partners were scaling up their response to the outbreak.

OCHA said in North Kivu province, where Ebola cases continued to rise, three additional treatment facilities were under construction, while screening and control points were being expanded to support early detection.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is also supporting the ministry of education with infection prevention and control supplies for 190 schools in Ebola outbreak hotspots in North Kivu.

According to the OCHA, the World Food Programme (WFP) continued to provide nutritional support to Ebola patients, caregivers and frontline health workers.

It called on parties to protect civilians and ensure safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access.

It noted that maintaining access to communities in need was essential to delivering life-saving assistance, supporting public health interventions and bringing the outbreak under control.