Symposium “One Health in Conflict Zones – The Case of Kivu in DR Congo”

Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Belgium is pleased to invite you to its 2025 Symposium “One Health in Conflict Zones – The Case of Kivu in DR Congo”, organized in collaboration with Médecins du Monde and Search for Common Ground. 

The symposium is open to everyone and requires no prior knowledge. 

📅 Date: Thursday, 4 December 2025 
🕞 Time: 3:30 PM – 8:30 PM 
📍 Venue: Au Bassin, Quai aux Briques 74, 1000 Brussels 

Free in-person event. 

Registration required: https://dierenartsenzondergrenzen.koalect.com/en-GB/p/lezing-one-health-in-conflictgebieden-de-kivu-case-in-dr-congo 

Why Take Part? 

In South Kivu, armed conflicts, mass displacement, and environmental degradation are promoting the emergence of zoonotic diseases — that is, diseases transmitted from animals to humans. 

You will discover how the One Health approach — which links human, animal, and environmental health — helps address health risks in conflict zones, particularly in South Kivu, while laying the foundation for long-term systemic resilience, and how it has already enabled the early detection of zoonotic diseases such as Rift Valley fever and Mpox. 

PROGRAM 

3:30 PM – Welcome – Photo and scientific poster exhibition 
4:15 PM – Introduction – Guy Hendrickx, Chair of VSF Belgium 
4:30 PM – Panel discussion: “One Health in Conflict Zones – The Case of Kivu in DR Congo” 
with DGD – FAO – Médecins du Monde – Search for Common Ground 

·                     Raschad Al-Khafaji: Director, FAO Liaison Office with the European Union and Belgium. 

·                     Magali HERRANZ: Liaison Officer – UN FAO (Agriculture). 

·                     Hughes Van Stichel: Attaché for International Relations – DGD (Fragility and Nexus). 

·                     Hilde DEMAN: Executive Director – Search for Common Ground (Peace & Conflict). 

·                     Anouck Linel: One Health Advisor – Médecins du Monde Belgium (Human Health). 

5:45 PM – Workshops (in parallel): One Health Quiz hosted by Jeroen Dewulf and Expert Talks with: 

·                     Patrick Van Damme (UGent / Czech University) – Ecosystem disruption and related risks for agrosylvopastoralists in the Sahel 

·                     Luciana Lepore (Institute of Tropical Medicine) – Rift Valley Fever in East and Central Africa 

·                     Justin Masumu (Institute of Tropical Medicine) – Rift Valley Fever: the case of Kivu in DR Congo 

·                     Maeva Dumas (Catholic University of Paris / Intercordia) – Food security and sovereignty in northern Benin: a One Health perspective 

 
7:15 PM – Cocktail & Photo exhibition by Aubin Mukoni – Congolese photographer and winner of the 2025 World Press Photo Award. 
8:30 PM – Closing 

Practical Information 

♿ The symposium and Expert Talks are accessible to persons with reduced mobility. 
🅿️ Parking: Q-Park Lepage 
🚇 Metro access: Line 5, Sainte-Catherine station 

📅 Mark your calendar for 4 December 2025 and join us in shaping a more connected and resilient future — one where the One Health approach truly means health for all.