US Allocates Additional Rp3.8 Trillion to Combat Ebola Outbreak in Congo

The United States government has announced an additional allocation of more than US$242 million, or approximately Rp3.8 trillion, to combat the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The announcement was made on Wednesday (5/8) local time amid global concern over the spread of the virus.

The US State Department stated that the additional funding brings Washington’s total direct financial assistance for responding to the outbreak to more than US$500 million. With that figure, the United States has affirmed its position as the largest financial contributor to Ebola containment efforts in the region.

Washington also called on other countries to immediately increase their contributions to support efforts to eradicate the deadly disease. The aid announcement coincided with the arrival of the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the DRC to review the situation on the ground.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, a Central African nation with a population of more than 100 million, officially declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on 15 May. The disease is believed to have been spreading for several weeks before the official declaration was made.

The WHO issued a serious warning last Saturday that the outbreak is spreading at an extraordinary pace. The global health body urged that the health response be significantly scaled up immediately. To date, DRC authorities have reported a total of 3,874 confirmed cases, with the death toll reaching 1,751 since the outbreak began.

Meanwhile, the US continues to maintain strict travel restrictions to prevent Ebola from entering its territory. These measures include a ban on US citizens travelling directly from the DRC to the United States, as well as restrictions on travellers from Uganda and South Sudan.

Despite the strict rules, Washington expressed appreciation to Uganda for its swift action in handling the spread of the virus. “While the trajectory of the outbreak in the DRC remains concerning, the United States commends Uganda for its rapid and decisive action in responding to the outbreak and limiting the spread of Ebola,” the US State Department said in an official statement.

Previously, the US faced criticism over its quarantine policy for its citizens in Kenya, a measure that was even challenged in court in that country. However, Washington has stressed that the top priority at present is to curb the rate of transmission at the source of the outbreak through financial and technical support.