The humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has described the spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo as “deeply alarming”, urging an immediate escalation in international response. The warning comes as the United Kingdom announced a £20 million pledge to support containment operations in the affected regions.
The outbreak, first declared in August 2018 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, has now infected more than 2,000 people and claimed over 1,400 lives, making it the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history. MSF noted that the virus has recently spread to areas previously unaffected, including the city of Goma, a major transport hub with a population of over one million.
“We are seeing a worrying acceleration in new cases, and the geographic expansion of the virus is a clear sign that current efforts are insufficient,” said Dr. Joanne Liu, international president of MSF. “The response must be radically scaled up to avoid a catastrophe.”
The UK’s pledge, announced by the Department for International Development, will fund mobile laboratories, training for healthcare workers, and community engagement programmes. It builds on an earlier £5 million contribution and is part of a broader international effort that includes the World Health Organisation and the United Nations.
“Ebola does not respect borders, and this outbreak poses a serious threat to regional stability,” said Alistair Burt, UK Minister of State for International Development. “Our funding will help contain the virus and protect vulnerable communities.”
The £20 million package will also support surveillance and contact tracing, which have been hampered by ongoing armed conflict and community mistrust in the region. MSF has called for greater access to affected areas and for aid workers to be protected from attacks.
Despite the availability of an experimental vaccine, which has been administered to over 180,000 people, the outbreak continues to spread. Health officials attribute this to a combination of logistical challenges, insecurity, and resistance from local populations.
The UK’s commitment underscores the importance of soft power and institutional cooperation in managing global health emergencies. However, aid organisations warn that the window of opportunity to control the outbreak is closing. “Every day of delay means more lives lost,” Dr. Liu added. “We need a coordinated surge in resources immediately.”
