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Add to Preferred SourcesThe International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has expanded its Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the arrival of a new shipment of critical outbreak supplies in Bunia, including 23 Safe and Dignified Burial (SDB) kits and 8,000 body bags, according to a press release issued on 03 August 2026. The shipment arrives as existing stocks were running dangerously low. The kits are enough to support 460 safe and dignified burials. A further 67 SDB kits are expected to arrive this week. The move strengthens response capacity across affected areas.
The scale-up comes as the Ebola outbreak continues to worsen in the DRC. The virus has now spread across five provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo and South Kivu. It has claimed 1,657 confirmed lives to date. The scale of the outbreak underscores the urgent need to expand prevention and response efforts. Health teams face mounting pressure across the affected regions.
In response to the deteriorating situation, the IFRC has revised its Emergency Appeal to reflect growing operational requirements and the projected spread of the outbreak. The appeal has increased from CHF 29.5 million to CHF 65 million. It now targets a revised 9 million people. The additional resources will enable the IFRC, working alongside the DRC Red Cross, to expand community engagement and accountability activities. They will also support surveillance, early detection, safe and dignified burials, infection prevention and control, mental health and psychosocial support, risk communication, logistics and emergency health interventions in the areas at greatest risk.
“Getting life-saving supplies to frontline teams quickly means communities can be better protected,” said Ariel Kestens, IFRC Head of Delegation in the DRC. He added that “Safe and dignified burials are one of the most effective measures to reduce transmission while ensuring families can honour their loved ones with dignity.”
Each SDB kit contains essential equipment to conduct Ebola burials safely. This includes personal protective equipment (PPE), gloves, masks, disinfectants and body handling materials. The kits enable trained teams to protect themselves and surrounding communities while carrying out burials with dignity.
The IFRC is also calling for faster and simpler logistics, customs and cross-border clearance procedures so that supplies can reach affected communities without delay. In a rapidly evolving outbreak, every day counts. Removing logistical bottlenecks can help save lives. It can also keep the response ahead of the virus. Alongside community engagement and early detection, these supplies remain essential to staying ahead of the outbreak.