The outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has entered a new and deeply alarming phase, according to Médecins Sans Frontières. The charity’s warning comes as Britain’s aid experts call for an emergency corridor and urgent vaccine funding to prevent a regional catastrophe. For families in the affected provinces, this is not just a medical crisis. It is a disaster that tears at the fabric of daily life. Markets close. Children stop going to school. And the fear of a virus that kills more than half of those it infects looms over every handshake, every meal, every burial. The UK government, long a leader in global health, must now decide if it will meet the moment or watch the outbreak spiral out of control.
The new cases are emerging in a region already battered by conflict and displacement. Health workers face not only the virus but also armed groups, suspicion, and a crumbling infrastructure. MSF says the situation is unprecedented. “We are seeing chains of transmission that are difficult to break,” a spokesperson told journalists. “Each new case is a race against time.” The charity has repeatedly called for a humanitarian corridor to move staff and supplies safely. Without that, they say, the outbreak will continue to spread. Meanwhile, UK aid experts have urged the government to release additional funds for vaccines and treatment centres. The current stock of experimental vaccines is limited, and without fresh funding, many will go unprotected.
This is not the first Ebola outbreak in the region. The 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa killed more than 11,000 people and exposed the world’s woeful unpreparedness. Since then, vaccines and treatments have been developed. But they are only effective if they reach the people who need them. In the UK, the aid budget has been cut from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income. Critics say that reduction has already cost lives. Now, with Ebola resurgent, the government faces a stark choice: invest in containment now or pay a far higher price later. For communities in North Kivu and Ituri, that price is measured in bodies.
The economic impact is also severe. The region is a major trading hub, and the outbreak is disrupting supply chains. Local farmers cannot bring their produce to market. Prices of basic goods are rising. The World Food Programme warned that millions could face hunger if the outbreak is not brought under control quickly. For families already struggling with poverty, this compounds the tragedy. Mothers who survive the virus may find they cannot afford to feed their children. The virus does not just kill. It destroys livelihoods.
Labour and union leaders in Britain have also raised concerns about the health of UK aid workers deployed to the region. They are calling for guarantees of safe working conditions and proper medical support. “Our members are on the front line,” a Unison representative said. “They should not be sent into a war zone without the resources to protect themselves and the people they are trying to help.”
The clock is ticking. The World Health Organization has not yet declared this a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, but that decision could come within days. For now, the responsibility lies with the UK government to act. The emergency corridor has been proposed. The funding is needed. The only question is whether the political will exists. For the people of DR Congo, the answer cannot come soon enough.
