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

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 Antonio 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 the Congo is the fastest-growing in history and is expanding beyond the capacity to contain it, although stopping it remains possible.

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

He warned that every gap in funding for the Ebola response makes the situation more difficult, noting that more than $80 million has been allocated to support UN partners leading the response efforts.