The UAE has dispatched 20 metric tonnes of critical medical supplies to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support efforts to contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak, reinforcing its commitment to global humanitarian and health initiatives.
The aid shipment was delivered under the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and coordinated by Dubai Humanitarian in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
The airlifted supplies are intended to strengthen the response capacity of healthcare teams working to contain the outbreak, which continues to affect several regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak has recorded 381 confirmed cases and 62 confirmed deaths. Cases have been reported across seven health zones in North Kivu Province and one health zone in South Kivu Province, with infections continuing to rise.
The shipment comes as WHO and Africa CDC announced a joint six-month Ebola response plan valued at $518 million, covering the period from June to November. The initiative aims to mobilise funding, strengthen health systems, and accelerate containment measures.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak is spreading rapidly and requires urgent political commitment, sustained financial support, and strong community engagement to halt transmission.
“The outbreak is moving fast and we are still playing catch-up,” Tedros said while announcing the response strategy.
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya described the situation as the most serious outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola to date.
The current outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Health authorities have warned that the disease may have circulated undetected for several weeks before being identified, making containment efforts more challenging.
Africa CDC officially announced the outbreak on May 15, marking the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak. The WHO subsequently declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, underscoring the need for a coordinated global response.
The UAE’s latest humanitarian contribution reflects its ongoing support for international relief efforts and healthcare initiatives aimed at addressing urgent global health challenges.
