UN Seeks $1.1bn as DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Worsens Amid Funding Crisis
Oluwafunbi Bello 
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
ABUJA, Nigeria – The United Nations has appealed for an additional $1.1 billion to sustain the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), warning that critical operations could stall within weeks unless fresh funding is secured.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres made the appeal on Thursday, noting that the international response plan remains only 48 per cent funded, leaving a funding gap of about $1.1 billion.
According to him, available resources are sufficient for only “weeks, not months,” underscoring the urgency of increased international support to contain the outbreak.
The current outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has recorded more than 5,600 confirmed infections and over 2,700 deaths since it was declared on May 15, making it the largest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history.
Health authorities say response efforts have been complicated by the absence of licensed vaccines and approved treatments specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain.
The outbreak has also been hindered by challenges including limited testing capacity, surveillance gaps and resistance from some affected communities, making it more difficult to identify cases and interrupt transmission.
The World Health Organization (WHO), alongside other international partners, continues to strengthen surveillance, case management and emergency response activities across affected communities.
Guterres stressed that additional funding would be essential to sustain life-saving interventions and prevent the outbreak from expanding further.
About the Author
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Abah Felicity 