UN allocates 4 million USD to support Uganda's Ebola response
United Nations, June 19
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated $4 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to support the Ugandan government's response to Ebola, a UN spokesperson said.
The newly-released funding is part of a CERF allocation of up to 60 million dollars announced at the end of May to strengthen the response. The funding will support United Nations operations across 29 districts in Uganda, including refugee-hosting areas, by providing health and logistics assistance, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, told a daily briefingm on Thursday.
According to Dujarric, the UN team continues to support Uganda's Ebola response on multiple fronts. The International Organization for Migration and the UN Development Programme are strengthening screening, surveillance and mobility management at key points of entry, while the UN Children's Fund is supporting community engagement, risk communication and the continuity of essential services.
In addition, the World Food Programme has delivered more than 6,000 meals to patients, contacts in isolation and frontline health workers, while also ensuring the delivery of critical supplies.
Meanwhile, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations and its partners delivered over 16 metric tonnes of medical supplies this week. UN partners also established new health screening facilities at the International Airport in Kinshasa to strengthen surveillance, Dujarric said.
Separately, the UN emergency relief coordinator, in consultation with the director-general of the World Health Organization, has designated Julien Harneis as senior Ebola coordinator to strengthen coordination across the response, address operational challenges and help ensure assistance reaches those in need as quickly as possible, according to Dujarric.
Ebola, or Ebola virus disease, is a rare, often fatal hemorrhagic fever caused by orthoebolaviruses. Primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa, it spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected humans or animals, or contaminated surfaces. It has an average fatality rate of roughly 50 per cent.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While the funding is welcome, I'm concerned about the 50% fatality rate of Ebola. India should also learn from this—our public health infrastructure in rural areas is still weak. We need better surveillance systems, especially at international airports. The WFP providing meals to patients is a heartwarming touch though ❤️
As a global citizen, I appreciate that the UN is coordinating across agencies like IOM, UNDP, and UNICEF. The DRC also getting medical supplies is important—diseases don't respect borders. But $4M seems small for 29 districts. Let's hope other donors chip in too.
I remember how scared everyone was during the 2014 outbreak. It's good that the UN is being proactive this time. But I wish they'd also invest more in local healthcare training in Africa, not just emergency supplies. Empowering local communities is key. Also, India should stockpile PPE and vaccines just in case.
The appointment of a senior Ebola coordinator is a smart move. Coordination is always the weakest link in these responses. But $60M total seems low for a global emergency fund—India alone spends more on defence in a day. We need to rethink global health funding priorities. Just saying. 🤷♂️
Respect to the frontline workers getting meals from WFP. It's easy to forget the human cost—these people risk their lives. The UN's approach of combining health with logistics and community engagement is solid. But let's be honest, $4M might not last long if cases spike. Hope the US and EU also step up.
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