The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has spread to an eighth province, prompting the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to scale up food assistance and logistical support for affected communities.
The latest spread to North Ubangi province adds pressure to a response already complicated by insecurity, displacement, hunger and difficulties accessing remote areas.
WFP says families affected by the outbreak face growing challenges obtaining food while complying with treatment and isolation guidance. The agency is providing meals to patients and food assistance to their families to reduce the need for people to leave isolation in search of supplies.
According to WFP, the agency has delivered more than 744,000 hot meals in 59 treatment and isolation facilities and distributed more than 3,000 metric tonnes of food to patients’ families.
The organisation is also supporting the wider health response by transporting medical supplies and humanitarian workers, providing telecommunications services and helping establish treatment infrastructure.
Through the WFP-led Logistics and Telecommunications Cluster, two logistics bases and nine smaller bases have been established across Ituri and Haut-Uélé to support storage, cargo handling and deliveries to hard-to-reach communities.
The WFP-managed United Nations Humanitarian Air Service has also conducted 1,255 flights, transporting 10,272 responders and 483 metric tonnes of cargo since the response began.
WFP said it had delivered the first Ebola Treatment Centre in Musienene within two months of receiving the request, despite insecurity, heavy rains and access challenges. Construction of another centre is underway in Bunia, while four additional centres are planned.
However, the agency warned that funding shortages could disrupt food assistance, air transport and the construction of treatment facilities.
WFP requires US$214 million over six months to support its emergency response in eastern DRC, including US$78.6 million for hot meals and dry rations for people directly affected by Ebola and their families.
The agency said timely and flexible funding would be essential to maintain operations as the outbreak reaches communities with limited healthcare services and significant humanitarian needs.
The expansion of the outbreak comes as millions of people in the DRC continue to face severe food insecurity, with conflict and displacement further limiting access to basic necessities.
WFP says food assistance, reliable supply routes and treatment infrastructure remain important parts of the wider effort to contain the outbreak and support affected families.
