The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has claimed at least 2,700 lives, with health authorities recording about 500 fresh cases every week.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has called for urgent international support, warning that the worsening outbreak could result in more deaths if funding and containment efforts are not significantly increased.
Speaking to journalists at the UN Headquarters in New York, Guterres said the humanitarian response was only 48 per cent funded, with existing resources potentially running out within weeks.
“The challenge is immense,” he said, warning that the humanitarian response was only 48 per cent funded while available resources could last merely weeks.
“We know how to contain Ebola, how to interrupt transmission and how to save lives,” the UN chief said.
“But we must also overcome another virus: the virus of indifference.”
Guterres appealed for an additional $1.1bn, stressing that critical operations could run out of funds at a time when the response needed to be expanded.
“Without additional funding, vital operations will run out of money at the very moment they need to ramp up,” he warned.
The World Health Organisation said efforts to control the outbreak had helped slow transmission, but the overall situation remained concerning.
It said insecurity, population displacement and fragile healthcare systems were making it increasingly difficult to contain the virus in affected areas.
The outbreak is spreading through parts of the country that have endured years of conflict, with more than 12 million people currently in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, according to the WHO.
In Ituri Province, approximately one million people have been displaced, creating additional challenges for disease surveillance, contact tracing, treatment and preventive measures.
The security situation has also taken a heavy toll on the health response. More than 40 healthcare workers have reportedly been killed, while treatment centres and ambulances have come under attack.
UN humanitarian agencies said responders were therefore confronting two crises simultaneously — Ebola and insecurity, which has made some communities difficult to access.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said 35 additional safe and dignified burial teams had been deployed, alongside 286 community-based teams involving more than 2,500 volunteers and civil protection personnel.
The WHO has also deployed over 260 experts and delivered more than 330 tonnes of medical and logistical supplies to assist treatment, surveillance and containment operations.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme is supporting frontline response activities and medical evacuations through the UN Humanitarian Air Service, while the International Organization for Migration has screened more than one million people across the region.
The IOM has also introduced a preparedness plan covering 11 countries amid fears that the virus could cross borders, particularly into neighbouring Burundi.
Although Burundi has not confirmed any Ebola cases, the WHO said the country was strengthening laboratory capacity, response guidelines and public awareness because of its proximity to affected areas in the DRC.
Elsewhere, the WHO has declared Uganda free of its Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak after the country went 42 consecutive days without recording a new confirmed case.
Uganda recorded 20 infections and two deaths during the outbreak.
The 42-day period, which represents twice the maximum incubation period for Ebola, is the internationally recognised benchmark used to declare an outbreak over.
