Health & Public Health
DR Congo Ebola: UN seeks $1.1bn as funds run low
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed on Thursday for $1.1 billion to fully fund an Ebola response plan in the Democratic Republic of Congo, warning that current resources would last “weeks, not months”.
Guterres said the plan costs $2.1 billion in total and is 48 percent funded after a major contribution from the United States. Without more money, he said, vital operations would run out of funds just as they needed to expand.
“That is why I am appealing for the remaining $1.1 billion,” Guterres said, adding that even more would be needed in the future.
More than 5,600 confirmed Ebola cases, including more than 2,700 deaths, have been recorded in DR Congo since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
The outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo species of the virus, for which there are no vaccines or treatments. It is the biggest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s history.
Update
The $2.1 billion plan is 48 percent funded.
Guterres said current resources will last weeks, not months.
More than 5,600 confirmed Ebola cases and more than 2,700 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
The outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there are no vaccines or treatments.
The outbreak is described as the biggest in DR Congo's history.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 August 2026 at 14:21:18 UTC.
Update
The Ebola aid plan for DR Congo costs $2.1 billion in total.
Antonio Guterres said the plan had received a major contribution from the United States.
Guterres warned that vital operations would run out of money without additional funding, just as they need to expand.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 August 2026 at 14:09:01 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The amount of funding that may be needed after the additional $1.1 billion was not specified.
Source
AFP news report published on .