United Nations launches urgent appeal for $1.1 billion to combat Ebola outbreak

The United Nations has issued an urgent appeal for $1.1 billion to respond to the Ebola outbreak, warning of the consequences of “indifference” in tackling the crisis.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking at a press conference in New York on the latest developments related to the epidemic, said that “the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the fastest-growing in history and is outpacing containment efforts, but it can still be stopped.”

He added, “We know how to contain Ebola, halt transmission, and save lives. But we must defeat another virus: the virus of indifference, because international attention, political focus, and resources remain inadequate to the reality unfolding on the ground.”

He warned that every gap in funding for the response makes the situation “more difficult,” noting that more than $80 million has been allocated to support UN partners carrying out the response. The UN has also launched a detailed response plan to meet needs, costing $2.13 billion.

He explained that this plan has been funded at 48 percent, thanks to a major contribution from the United States, but cautioned that “current resources will run out within weeks without additional funding, even as the response needs to expand.”

He emphasized that the Ebola crisis is primarily a “humanitarian tragedy” affecting families and communities on a large scale, pointing out that the challenge is immense, as the health emergency is unfolding in one of the most fragile environments in the world.