The spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been described as ‘deeply alarming’ by British aid agencies now mobilising resources to contain the outbreak. Sources within the major humanitarian organisations confirm that the situation on the ground is deteriorating faster than official reports suggest, with new cases emerging in previously unaffected regions. The outbreak, which began in North Kivu province, has now reached urban centres, raising fears of a catastrophic escalation.
Uncovered documents from the World Health Organisation show that funding gaps are hampering the response, with only a fraction of the requested $148 million delivered. British agencies, including Oxfam and Save the Children, are scrambling to deploy medical teams and supplies, but logistics remain a nightmare. The Congolese government, weakened by corruption and political instability, is struggling to coordinate efforts.
Local health workers, already stretched thin, are reporting shortages of protective equipment and vaccines. Meanwhile, the WHO has warned that the risk of regional spread is ‘very high’, with neighbouring countries Uganda and Rwanda on high alert. This is not a crisis that emerged overnight.
The international community’s chronic underinvestment in health systems has created the conditions for this disaster. Every dollar that was cut from pandemic preparedness is now costing lives. British aid agencies are doing what they can, but they cannot fill the void left by years of neglect.
The clock is ticking.
