UN chief condemns “indifference” as Ebola cases mount in DR Congo
The UN Secretary-General is calling for $1.1 billion in urgent funding to combat a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The response is currently hindered by regional conflict, insecurity, and a lack of international financial support.
Why it matters
The outbreak is the fastest-growing in the region's history, and failure to secure funding could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.
The Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) requires “urgent” action and funding to rein in its alarming spread, the UN Secretary-General told reporters at UN Headquarters on Thursday.
“The challenge is immense,” he said, noting 500 new cases are being reported every week while the humanitarian response remains only 48 per cent funded.
Estimates show current resources will last only weeks, not months, as the epidemic spreads faster than the response to contain it.
“We know how to contain Ebola , how to interrupt transmission and how to save lives,” he underscored, “but we must also overcome another virus: the virus of indifference.”
“Without additional funding, vital operations will run out of money at the very moment they need to ramp up,” he warned, calling for an additional $1.1 billion.
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