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) amid growing global concern over the spread of the virus. The State Department stated that this additional funding brings Washington’s total direct financial assistance for the response to over US$500 million, solidifying its position as the largest financial contributor to the effort. Washington also called on other nations to immediately increase their contributions to support the fight against the deadly disease. The funding 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 DRC, a Central African nation with a population of over 100 million, officially declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on 15 May, though the disease is believed to have begun spreading weeks earlier. The WHO issued a serious warning last weekend that the outbreak is spreading at an alarming rate and urged a significant scaling up of the health response. To date, authorities have reported a total of 3,874 confirmed cases, with the death toll reaching 1,751 since the outbreak began. Meanwhile, the US maintains strict travel restrictions to prevent the importation of Ebola, including a ban on its citizens travelling directly from the DRC and restrictions on travellers from Uganda and South Sudan. Despite these measures, Washington commended Uganda for its swift and decisive actions in responding to and limiting the spread of the virus.