Australia pledges US$3.6 million aid for Ebola response

The Australian government on Thursday announced a commitment to provide approximately US$3.6 million (A$5 million) in funding to support the Ebola outbreak response in Central Africa and prevent the spread of the disease. This was conveyed by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Minister for International Development Anne Aly in a joint statement. “Australia’s funding, channelled through the International Federation of Red Cross and the World Health Organization (WHO), will provide vital medical care and supplies, as well as water and sanitation services, supporting outbreak surveillance and preparedness while strengthening local health systems,” the joint statement read. According to the WHO, there are 344 confirmed Ebola cases and 60 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside 15 cases and one death in Uganda in the ongoing outbreak.