New UK aid funding to tackle Ebola in DRC

International Development Secretary, Rory Stewart, announced the funding of up to £50 million to aid the ongoing response in North Kivu and Ituri, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as well as helping neighboring countries to prepare.

UK aid has already supported vaccines, surveillance and the construction of treatment centres in response to the outbreak, as well as screening on the borders of countries next to eastern DRC. This new funding will enable this life-saving work to continue in the affected areas.

From the start of this outbreak, the UK government has consistently supported the government of the DRC, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the wider UN and NGOs to stop the spread of this disease, providing financial, technical and political backing.

However, more is still needed and the International Development Secretary has warned there must be a truly international response to this global crisis.

The outbreak in the DRC is the most complex public health emergency in recent history. It is the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever and the first in a conflict zone, with high levels of community mistrust around the response. Ebola has killed more than 1,600 people since it started in the region in August last year and the situation is far from under control. More must be done if the response is to be successful.

Original source: DFID
Published on 16 July 2019