The United Nations has appealed for an additional $1.1 billion to strengthen efforts to contain a deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made the appeal on Thursday, warning that the international humanitarian response is facing a critical funding shortage as health authorities intensify efforts to control the spread of the virus.
The $2.1 billion response plan has so far received only 48 per cent of the required funding, leaving a shortfall of approximately $1.1 billion.
Guterres warned that available resources could run out within weeks if international donors fail to provide additional funding, potentially disrupting critical operations at a time when the response needs to be expanded.
“Without additional funding, vital operations will run out of money, just when they need to expand,” he said.
The UN chief urged international donors to urgently close the funding gap, warning that further resources could become necessary as containment operations continue.
The outbreak, declared on May 15, has recorded more than 5,600 confirmed cases and over 2,700 deaths, making it the deadliest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the DRC.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments.
The scale of the outbreak has surpassed the DRC’s previous deadliest Ebola epidemic, which lasted from 2018 to 2020 and killed 2,299 people out of 3,381 confirmed cases, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) figures based on data from Congolese authorities.
Health authorities and international partners are also grappling with community resistance and refusals to undergo testing, complicating efforts to identify cases, trace contacts and contain transmission.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said such challenges were hampering surveillance and other measures needed to slow the spread of the virus.
The WHO said it was working with Congolese authorities and other partners to strengthen the response and reach communities affected by the outbreak.
Meanwhile, the European Union announced on Tuesday that it would provide testing kits worth €2.5 million, approximately $2.9 million, to support the Ebola response.
The UN funding appeal comes as health agencies step up containment efforts, with growing concerns that a prolonged shortage of funds could undermine critical interventions and result in further loss of lives.
