**Displaced persons sites in Ituri exposed to the risks of HIV/AIDS contamination**
Recent news from the Congolese Union of People Living with HIV reveals an alarming situation regarding the risks of HIV/AIDS contamination of people living in displaced persons sites in Ituri. This issue raised by the NGO UCOP + highlights the precarious conditions and health challenges faced by these displaced populations.
Displaced persons sites in Ituri, witnesses to the vulnerability and human distress caused by conflicts and forced displacements, are becoming major sources of public health risks. Indeed, the lack of access to basic health services, the fragility of health infrastructures, the deficit in terms of humanitarian assistance and the ambient insecurity favor the spread of HIV/AIDS within these already weakened communities.
Figures reported by UCOP+ reveal a significant increase in HIV cases in IDP sites, mainly attributed to precarious living conditions and the lack of sustainable livelihoods. Social stigma and economic exclusion push some displaced women to engage in prostitution, exposing not only their own health, but also that of their partners.
The crucial role of humanitarian organizations and local authorities in the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS in conflict zones is essential. It is imperative to implement awareness-raising, screening and access to care actions to protect displaced populations from the risks of contamination. Collaboration between humanitarian actors, health authorities and civil society organizations is essential to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS and ensure equitable access to health services for all.
In conclusion, the humanitarian crisis in Ituri highlights the urgent need to intervene to protect the health and well-being of displaced populations. The fight against HIV/AIDS in displacement sites requires concerted and effective action, in order to ensure the dignity and health security of the most vulnerable.