Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, travelled to Bunia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sunday 7 June to reaffirm the European Union’s support in the face of the Ebola outbreak affecting the east of the country (see EUROPE 13873/19).
Alongside the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and the region’s military governor, Johnny Luboya Nkashama, Ms Lahbib visited local humanitarian facilities.
“Containing a disease in a conflict zone where humanitarian needs are numerous and displacement is massive is an immense challenge”, she acknowledged in a statement published the same day. “In the face of this virus, early detection of cases and the rapid isolation of infected people are essential”, she added.
During her visit, Ms Lahbib announced on X the release of a new €5 million package from the EU. This funding comes on top of the €84 million already allocated to tackle the crisis and will primarily target research and the strengthening of health infrastructure on the ground. (Original version in French by Justine Manaud)