The World Health Organisation (WHO) has renewed its appeal for increased international funding to combat the worsening Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), warning that the country cannot tackle the crisis alone.
The UN health agency said it has received only about 40 per cent of the 115 million dollars it requested to respond to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, for which there is currently no proven treatment or vaccine.
WHO expressed concern over the continued spread of the virus and urged international donors not to abandon the DRC at a critical stage of the response.
Government data show that at least 1,926 people have been infected, while 702 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak began.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Tuesday after visiting Ituri Province, the hardest-hit area, the head of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the outbreak requires stronger global support.
“This outbreak requires resources that match the scale of the challenges we are facing. This is not a burden DRC can be allowed to carry alone,” he said.
Ihekweazu noted that the response had reached a critical stage, with intensified efforts needed to detect, isolate and manage cases following the spread of the virus to two additional provinces.
Describing the response as a marathon rather than a sprint, he stressed the need for sustained commitment despite growing fatigue.
“It’s a bit like a marathon. You can’t give up after the first lap or the second. You just have to keep pushing even when you’re getting tired and exhausted,” he said.
He also reiterated that the actual number of Ebola infections in the DRC is likely far higher than official figures, estimating that the true caseload could be more than double—and possibly up to four times—the reported total.
