UN allocates $8 million for Ebola in South Sudan, Burundi

UNMISS People crossing over a newly constructed bridge in Tambura, South Sudan, funded by the UN Mission in the country, UNMISS.

The UN’s has allocated $8 million in funding to help Burundi and South Sudan prepare for the potential spread of Ebola.

Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher announced the funding, provided through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), last week on Thursday.

The funds will support strengthening surveillance, laboratory capacity, case management, and infection prevention and control in Burundi and South Sudan, both of which are at risk of cross-border transmission.

An outbreak declared in May in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has infected more than 1,000 people and killed nearly 300.

Although Burundi has not reported any Ebola cases, the UN said the country remains at high risk because of its shared border with the DRC and the large number of people crossing between the two countries each day. Burundi has activated a national preparedness plan following the outbreak declaration in the DRC.

South Sudan also faces a heightened risk of Ebola importation because of frequent cross-border movement with the DRC and Uganda.

The South Sudanese government, through the Ministry of Health, has activated a national preparedness and response plan covering 15 high-risk counties.

UN agencies and humanitarian partners continue to respond to the outbreak inside the DRC, where more than 51,000 people have received food assistance since the outbreak was declared and containment measures have disrupted trade, reduced food availability and driven up prices in affected areas.

Even as support from the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) has increased laboratory capacity, the UN reiterated its call on Thursday for donors to increase support so that humanitarians can continue to provide life-saving assistance.