International financial commitments to battle the escalating Ebola crisis in Africa have dramatically declined by almost 50% since earlier this week, according to the continent’s primary health organization.
The World Health Organization has classified the outbreak of the uncommon Bundibugyo variant of Ebola affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a global public health emergency.
Latest statistics from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) indicate 1,077 suspected infections and 246 suspected fatalities in Congo. The data also revealed that confirmed cases in Uganda have increased from seven to eight.
During a virtual news briefing on Thursday, Director-General Jean Kaseya revealed that Africa CDC’s international partners had committed nearly $500 million earlier in the week to combat the outbreak. However, that amount has since dropped to approximately $290 million after several contributors withdrew their commitments, though he declined to identify specific donors.
“People are dying! How can we come and say: we commit X million dollars, and the next day they are calling me to say no, it was a mistake?” Kaseya stated.
“We know some big global health institutions are sitting with billions of dollars… How can you come to say: I want you to focus on this development program, and I have money for that, but I don’t have money for Ebola?”
During his remarks to the media, Kaseya commended the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) for their willingness to redirect existing funds to support the emergency response efforts.
Medical officials are working urgently to stop the rapidly expanding outbreak across the African continent, but face challenges including shortages of essential medical supplies and community distrust stemming from previous epidemic experiences.
The crisis has led governments to implement stricter travel controls. The United States has established temporary entry limitations for individuals who visited Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days, including permanent residents.
Kaseya questioned the inclusion of South Sudan in travel restrictions, noting the country has reported no Ebola cases or fatalities.
“We cannot afford to stop this outbreak without resources… and more importantly, we cannot afford to stop this outbreak with travel restrictions that Western countries start to impose to African countries.”
Ebola represents a serious and frequently deadly illness spread through direct exposure to infected body fluids or contaminated materials.
