Japan provides $3 million to DRC for Ebola response

Japan has announced an emergency aid package of $3 million to the Democratic Republic of Congo to strengthen the fight against the Ebola outbreak affecting North Kivu and South Kivu in the eastern part of the country.

This financial contribution will be divided among three international organisations actively involved in the humanitarian response. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies will receive $1.5 million, the World Food Programme will get $1 million, and the United Nations Children’s Fund will obtain $500,000.

The assistance will fund interventions in key areas including health, access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. Japanese authorities state that this support aims to curb the spread of the Ebola virus not only within the Democratic Republic of Congo but also in neighbouring countries at risk of contamination.

With this contribution, Japan underscores its commitment to the principle of human security, which it says is the main motivation behind responding to requests from international agencies operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Amid multiple international financial pledges since the resurgence of the Ebola epidemic, Public Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba has called on partners to enhance coordination and transparency in managing funds for health interventions, particularly for the outbreak response in the eastern part of the country. During a joint briefing in Bunia, Ituri province, the minister stressed the need for a common approach between the government and technical and financial partners. He noted that a large portion of the financial support is managed directly by some humanitarian organisations without passing through the government, which creates confusion among the public who often believe these funds are under state control.

On 17 May 2026, two days after the official declaration of the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization classified the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Uganda, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

According to the World Health Organization, the epidemic has expanded geographically and its true scale may be underestimated. The situation is worsened by high population mobility, weak healthcare systems, inadequate health infrastructure, and difficult access to conflict-affected areas.

Adding to these challenges is the lack of an approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo virus. Despite the worrying context, Congolese authorities remain optimistic and rely on experience gained from sixteen previous Ebola outbreaks that the country has managed to control.