The European Union has announced an additional €5 million in emergency funding to bolster efforts to contain the rapidly escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where infections continue to rise and concerns are growing over the disease’s spread across the region.
The funding announcement was made on Sunday by European Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib during a visit to Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province and a major operational hub for the Ebola response.
According to Lahbib, the new financial package will be used to establish and strengthen regional diagnostic centers in provinces hardest hit by the outbreak, enabling faster detection of infections and more effective disease surveillance.
The intervention comes as health authorities battle one of the most serious Ebola outbreaks in recent years. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed nearly 500 cases across affected areas and has designated the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to the growing risk of regional transmission.
“The European Union takes this emergency very seriously,” Lahbib said during her visit. “As soon as the outbreak began, we sprang into action and were on the ground very quickly to step up our support, and that commitment continues today.”
She noted that improved testing capabilities are crucial in containing the outbreak, as quicker diagnosis allows health workers to isolate infected individuals and prevent further transmission.
The WHO’s latest situation report recorded 452 confirmed cases and 82 deaths in the DRC, just three weeks after the outbreak was officially declared. Public health experts have warned that without swift intervention, the epidemic could evolve into one of the largest Ebola crises ever recorded in the region.
This latest outbreak marks the 17th Ebola epidemic in eastern Congo, a region that has repeatedly struggled with recurring health emergencies. Ongoing armed conflict, mass displacement, poor sanitation and fragile healthcare infrastructure have created conditions that facilitate the spread of infectious diseases.
Lahbib said the warning signs were already evident during an earlier visit to the area.
“When I was here four months ago, I felt that all the factors were in place due to the sanitary conditions, a healthcare system on its knees, an exhausted population, and a population constantly displaced by the fighting, for this epidemic to break out once again,” she said.
The European Union has already committed €84 million toward the Ebola response and broader humanitarian assistance in the region. The support package includes aid to local authorities, international health agencies and humanitarian organizations working on the ground.
In recent weeks, UNICEF conducted a humanitarian airlift delivering nearly 100 tonnes of emergency supplies, including medicines, protective equipment and temporary shelter materials to support frontline responders.
Lahbib also announced that five additional humanitarian flights are scheduled to arrive in Bunia over the coming weeks, bringing further medical supplies and logistical support to affected communities.
Conflict and Disease: A Dangerous Combination
The Ebola outbreak is unfolding amid persistent insecurity in eastern Congo, where violence involving armed groups continues to displace thousands of people and disrupt access to essential healthcare services.
During her visit, Lahbib called on all parties involved in the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law and guarantee safe access for health workers and aid agencies operating in affected areas.
“Respecting humanitarian law means respecting life,” she said. “Even in times of war, there are rules that must be observed.”
She stressed that infectious diseases move far beyond conflict zones, warning that Ebola “pays no heed to borders or human disputes” and can spread rapidly if containment efforts are weakened.
Regional Alarm as Uganda Reports Cases
Fears of a wider regional outbreak intensified after Ebola cases were confirmed in neighbouring Uganda, highlighting the cross-border nature of the health threat.
Earlier this week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited Uganda, where authorities have reported 19 infections and two deaths linked to the outbreak.
Tedros commended Uganda’s health authorities for their swift response, noting that border screening measures had successfully identified infected travellers arriving from the DRC. He also praised the country’s surveillance, testing and case management systems, which have helped prevent wider community transmission.
As health officials race to contain the virus, international partners warn that sustained funding, strong surveillance systems and regional cooperation will be critical to preventing a larger humanitarian and public health catastrophe across Central and East Africa.
