G20 foreign Ministers and major International donors have pledged more than $470 million in new funding to help contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The pledges push total global commitments since the epidemic began in May above US$2 billion.
The package was announced after a G20 Foreign Ministerial on Ebola convened by the United States under its G20 presidency, bringing together donor countries, multilateral institutions and global health organisations.
The United States accounted for the largest share, announcing an additional US$267 million in health and humanitarian assistance, raising total US direct support to US$887 million.
Other major pledges came from the World Bank with US$90 million, and the United Kingdom with US$67.5 million.
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Germany pledged US$24.8 million, South Korea US$18 million, France US$16 million, Italy US$11.3 million and the United Arab Emirates US$10 million. Australia and Japan also announced additional contributions.
The US State Department said in a statement that “the commitments underscored growing international efforts to defeat an outbreak that has proved particularly difficult to contain“.
“The current epidemic is centred in an isolated, conflict-affected region of eastern DRC and involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which existing vaccines, diagnostic tools and therapies are less effective.”
Health officials say the outbreak has highlighted the need for expanded disease surveillance, contact tracing, treatment capacity and investment in new vaccines.
The funding will support Ebola treatment units, protective equipment for frontline health workers, burial teams, laboratory services, community outreach programmes and strengthened surveillance systems.
The DRC has experienced several Ebola outbreaks over the past two decades due to its location within the Congo Basin, where the virus is believed to originate in animal reservoirs.
The current outbreak has raised concern due to insecurity, population displacement and limited healthcare infrastructure in affected areas.
Stronger Preparedness
Donors also called for stronger preparedness in neighbouring high-risk countries to prevent cross-border transmission and improve rapid response.
The US noted that successful containment of a recent Ebola outbreak in Uganda showed that coordinated international action, backed by adequate funding and community engagement, could bring the disease under control.
The meeting was attended by G20 members and other donors including Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Qatar and the UAE, alongside the Africa CDC, UNICEF, the World Bank, OCHA and the Pandemic Fund.
AP
