The U.S. Department of State announced intentions to provide an additional $242 million to support Ebola response, preparedness, and humanitarian assistance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The funding aims to bolster regional efforts to contain the outbreak, which officials noted remains a concern in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This additional allocation follows a commitment made at the G7 Leader’s Summit to provide up to $500 million for Ebola response efforts. With this new funding, the Department of State’s direct assistance to combat the outbreak has surpassed $512 million. This total is in addition to $350 million previously earmarked for critical humanitarian aid in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
To date, State Department funding has supported 8.6 million health screenings across affected and at-risk countries and reached more than one million people with risk communication messaging. The assistance has also supported over 180 health facilities in Ebola-affected areas and contributed to the operation of 12 specialized treatment facilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Additionally, nearly 300 metric tons of critical supplies, such as personal protective equipment and sanitation commodities, have been distributed, while diagnostic capacity has been strengthened at 11 regional laboratories.
While the trajectory of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a continued concern, the United States commended Uganda for its swift and decisive actions to limit the spread of the virus. The United States remains the largest financial contributor to the Ebola response and continues to urge other international donors to dedicate resources to the outbreak.
To protect U.S. citizens, the Department of State is operating a 24/7 consular call center to provide real-time security and health updates. The department is also assisting Americans impacted by travel restrictions by providing financial assistance loans for those needing to change travel plans or secure temporary lodging outside the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The current travel advisory for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan remains at Level 4, advising all U.S. citizens not to travel to these countries for any reason.
