UN chief appeals for $1.1 billion in Ebola aid for DR Congo

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urgently appealed for $1.1 billion to fully fund a critical aid plan to combat the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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without additional funding, vital operations will run out of money, just when they need to expand.

The comprehensive plan requires a total of $2.1 billion. While the United States has provided a significant contribution, Guterres warned that without additional funding, vital operations will cease just as they need to expand. He noted that the program is currently only 48 percent funded, with existing resources expected to last only weeks, not months.

The current Ebola outbreak, declared on May 15, has become the largest in the DRC's history. It has resulted in over 5,600 confirmed cases and more than 2,700 deaths. This outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo species of the virus, for which no vaccines or treatments are available.

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current resources will last weeks, not months.

Despite ongoing efforts, challenges persist, including community resistance to testing and control measures, which hinder surveillance. The World Health Organization is working to scale up the response, and the European Union recently announced the donation of testing kits worth 2.5 million euros.

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That is why I am appealing for the remaining $1.1 billion…, recognising that even more will be needed in the future.