The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday announced the reopening of the airport in Bunia, the capital city of Ituri province, which is the epicenter of the Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak.
The DRC Ministry of Transport and Communications suspended all flights to and from Bunia Airport on May 27 as a “precautionary measure” to “prevent any cross-border spread of the epidemic and to ensure the health and safety of passengers, crews and airport staff.”
The flight ban included exceptions for humanitarian and medical flights, subject to approval from the DRC’s aviation and health ministries, but local residents complained that shutting down the airport would deprive them of critical supplies in their hour of greatest need.
“Bunia Airport is one of the DRC’s border points. Several planes take off and land there. Closing this facility will cause significant disruption. As you know, the road is virtually impassable and
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