The United Nations on Friday announced an increament in its own humanitarian aid, allocating “up to U$60 million” from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to accelerate response to Ebola in the region.
Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator announced the funds.
“We must take the lead in Ebola outbreak. I am allocating up to $60 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to accelerate the response in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the wider region,” he said.
“The humanitarian community is fully mobilized, as in previous outbreaks. Dr. Tedros and his colleagues at the World Health Organization (WHO) are leading the fight against the virus, demonstrating courage and expertise,” wrote Tom Fletcher added.
“The epidemiology is complex: there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment against the Bundibugyo strain,” he noted.
The current Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC, adds complications to a region already grappling with activities of local and foreign armed groups and military operations.
According to Tom Fletcher, “These are difficult operational environments for rescue missions. We are facing conflicts and significant population movements. We are working to guarantee safe and sustainable access for frontline responders, including in areas controlled by armed groups. It is essential that no obstacle hinders their work.”
The World Health Organization declared that the outbreak (Bundibugyo strain) in DRC and Uganda now constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
