This page provides answers to any questions you might have regarding requirements, and specific follow-up measures due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DRC (Ituri, North-Kivu and South-Kivu and Uganda).
OCG has created Taskforce21 (TF21), to help coordinate and manage the high demands on staff health and human resources during Ebola Operations.
You can consult information relevant to your situation below.
Please note:
The information provided here doesn't replace operational and security briefings. Note that DRC and Ituri are classified as Highly Insecure Context.
It is the individual responsibility to ensure they have all necessary information before any travel or deployment.
The outbreak is evolving and the situation is volatile. For the latest travel guidelines in the region, please check this page.
Page last updated: 16 June 2026
You are an IMS currently in DRC or Uganda
This page explains OCG policies for staff movements for those currently working in DRC and Uganda. Please note that the majority of these measures are related to international travel and therefore are relevant only for International Mobile Staff.
IMS leaving DRC or Uganda for leave or end of mission
Ebola risk exposure exit assessment
For any international travel out of DRC or Uganda, before leaving the red zone staff will receive a specific medical debriefing with the staff health focal point to determine the level of risk of potential exposure. The measures that apply to the specific risk level will be explained and the location for the 21-day monitoring period confirmed. For staff in Uganda this exit assessment is completed by OCP.
Please see the attached guidance document explaining OCG's approach to the 21-day monitoring period for more information.
We recognise that this guidance is particularly difficult for staff already on assignment prior to this outbreak, as they entered the mission before these arrangements were confirmed. We are therefore trying to be as flexible as possible with current staff in mission.
For new incoming staff, the information will be shared during briefing, and the country of observation – the country of MSF contract – will be pre-agreed with TF21.
More information on After Ebola Mission
Staff currently in DRC and Uganda planning to attend training
Staff cannot attend training during 21 days observations for your own health and others. This is to avoid groups/crowds where the risk of having contact with another illness that could cause a fever is higher. Having any illness during the 21 day observation period is a stressful process for you and for MSF that we wish to avoid. Also, if you do become unwell the number of contacts may be large depending on the training attendance.
Until further notice, staff in an MSF Ebola red zone in DRC cannot attend training. This is both a public health measure and an operational decision to prioritise our response capacity.
For staff in Uganda a decision is taken case by case. It depends on the risk assessment of MSF AND the national restrictions of the country of training.
Even staff outside a red zone may not be able to attend due to national restrictions in the country of training. Please have your manager contact TF21 for an individual assessment.
If you are in a flying position and based in Uganda and DRC
Staff in flying positions based in Uganda or DRC will be prioritised for the Ebola response. If this is not an option, OCG will look for options for staff to be relocated to another country wherever this is feasible.
Flying staff will not undertake their usual regional travel to DRC and Uganda for the time being.
If you are planning to start another mission after working in the DRC and Uganda
A case by case approach will be adopted.
In most cases, staff will be required to complete the 21-day observation period before beginning a new assignment. Link for more information: After Ebola Mission
Staff currently residing in DRC and Uganda and not working for the Ebola response
Due to the complexity of making arrangements for the 21-day monitoring period, IMS and staff on the mobility list who are in the red zones and wish to go on assignment outside the country are currently on standby for matching until the end of August.
For those living outside the red zone, matching may be possible, but it will depend on the regulations in the country of assignment, the urgency of the matching and the outcome of the risk assessment done by Staff Health (TF21).
We aim to start international matching again after July and will send updates through as soon as possible.
Until then, any staff in DRC who could assist with the response may be able to join the teams in DRC, and you participation in the efforts are likely to be welcomed. Your pool manager can assist with placements within DRC.
You are a Congolese or Ugandan IMS on assignment outside of DRC or Uganda
This page explains OCG policies for staff movements for staff from DRC and Uganda who are currently on assignment outside their country of residence. Please note that the majority of these measures are related to international travel and therefore are relevant only for IMS. These measures will be regularly reviewed but we do not expect changes before the end of August.
OCG is temporarily changing our way of working during this Ebola outbreak, considering two main factors:
The public health approach to assess the risk of Ebola exposure and potential onwards transmission
The limitation of movement imposed by national authorities after visiting DRC or Uganda, independent of MSF's risk exposure assessment
Holidays
Unfortunately, it is not currently possible for staff members to take leave in DRC or Uganda, as it is likely that a 21-day observation period will be enforced by the country of their assignment before returning and this will increase the time out of mission, creating avoidable gaps and increasing the pressure on the OCG Ebola response teams to manage the 21-day monitoring period for these staff on top of the high volume of staff already in DRC for the response to the epidemic.
We realise this is disappointing for staff currently on assignment, but it is not currently feasible to manage these requests. OCG will support staff to take holidays in another safe location and provide a lumpsum financial contribution for the inconvenience.
The possible locations and financial contribution are agreed by the mission level. This contribution is designed to cover accommodation costs that staff would not have to cover had they been able to return home. Staff who choose to stay in MSF premises will not receive the financial contribution.
Please note that if staff wish to return home to DRC or Uganda, this will be seen as an end of assignment, and they will be under the same conditions as other staff currently in DRC and Uganda.
If you are assigned outside DRC and you planned to take your leave at home, and you have already purchased your flight tickets in line with your mission's leave policy, you must adjust your plans due to the Ebola outbreak. In this situation, MSF will reimburse the costs you have already paid. You may reschedule your leave for a later time, and you must follow the DRC MS leave policy. MSF will contribute to the cost of your new flight ticket accordingly.
End of Mission
If already matched: we will reduce the amount of time between assignments as much as possible by either extending current assignment or arriving early to new assignment, knowing that staff should usually have at least a two-week break between assignments. Should staff need to be accommodated in the interim period, the usual practice is to try to accommodate staff in the current assignment country for as long as possible, but this will depend on circumstances. We request all HOMs and Cells to work with HR teams to support our colleagues to find the best solution possible for each individual situation.
If no new assignment matching: we will prioritise matching to another assignment as soon as possible. If returning to DRC there is no guarantee that we will be able to secure a match (see guidance for staff currently in DRC and Uganda). If no match is available staff may have to return to their home countries. Given the high volume of needs currently we should be able to find another assignment for most people, but we can never guarantee this.