The Government of United Kingdom has announced a new package of more than £50 million to help contain the growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to a press release by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The measures were unveiled on 1 September 2026 by Minister for Africa Kirsty McNeill on Parliament’s first day back. The funding will bring the UK’s total contribution to £78 million. It aims to support thousands of vulnerable people, save lives and reduce the risk of further international spread. The accelerated support comes as the outbreak risks becoming the deadliest on record.
The current outbreak is the largest in the DRC’s history and is on course to become the deadliest and most extensive Ebola epidemic ever recorded. The spread is unfolding against a backdrop of conflict, displacement and severe humanitarian need. These conditions are compounding the risk of catastrophe on an unprecedented scale. They are also increasing the urgency of international action. The UK was among the first to commit support and experts to the region.
The new UK package will help strengthen disease surveillance and support frontline health workers. It will also improve infection prevention and control, and expand access to treatment. Community engagement will be strengthened, and safe and dignified burials will be supported. Minister McNeill announced the measures during her first appearance at the Despatch Box after Parliament returned. The step demonstrates the importance the UK Government attaches to tackling the outbreak.
Speaking on the announcement, Minister for Africa Kirsty McNeill said: “Families across the DRC are living through unimaginable loss as Ebola tears through communities, claiming lives, and leaving thousands more fighting for survival.” She added: “We know that speed saves lives, which is why we were amongst the first to commit support and experts to the region, but as the outbreak intensifies, we are accelerating our response to match the pace and scale of the challenge.”
The £51 million package consists of:
- £40 million from humanitarian crisis and contingency funding and unallocated spend
- £11 million in re-allocation from existing FCDO allocations
The UK is already supporting the regional response through partnerships with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization, the United Nations and humanitarian organisations working on the front line. British public health experts have also been deployed across the region. Their work covers surveillance, infection prevention, community engagement and outbreak preparedness. The accelerated response is designed to match the growing pace and scale of the epidemic. The UK’s commitment reinforces its role in the international effort to stop the outbreak at its source.