The World Bank Group has announced that it is mobilizing up to $ 300 million to increase support for the global response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to the official statement to Zoom Eco, the announcement follows the World Health Organization (WHO) statement that the current outbreak of Ebola is a public health emergency of international concern.

« Together, we must take urgent action to stem the Ebola epidemic that is destroying lives and destroying livelihoods in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, » said Kristalina Georgieva, Executive Director of the World Bank.

Indeed, it is clear to the World Bank that the people and health workers on the front lines of this epidemic urgently need more help and resources from the international community. Objective: to prevent the crisis from worsening inside the country and spreading across borders.

The statement said US $ 300 million in grants and credits will be largely funded by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) and its Crisis Response Mechanism, designed to help countries cope with severe crises and to reposition themselves on their path of sustainable development.

The financing package, the statement said, will cover DRC’s health zones affected by Ebola.

« Funding will enable governments, WHO, UNICEF, WFP, IOM and others to strengthen their front-line health interventions, implement cash compensation programs work to support the local economy, strengthen the resilience of the affected population, and curb the spread of this deadly virus, « he says.

The World Bank indicates that the amount of aid announced (US $ 300 million) represents about half of the funding requirements of the fourth strategic response plan (SRP4), which is expected to be finalized next week by the government and a consortium partners taking part in the fight against Ebola.

Since May 2018, the World Bank has since supported the programs implemented to support the DRC’s fight against Ebola by providing resources to support front-line interventions, health system strengthening and preparedness measures. to reduce the risk of spread.

Ebola constitue une "urgence sanitaire mondiale" selon l'OMS. Cette déclaration nous exhorte à tout mettre en oeuvre pour mettre fin à l'épidémie. La @Banquemondiale s'engage à faire tout ce qui est en son pouvoir pour soutenir le gouvernement et le peuple de RDC. – @muhammadpate https://t.co/lIvoWbefwM

— Banque mondiale (@Banquemondiale) July 17, 2019

The $ 300 million in World Bank funding is in addition to the $ 100 million disbursed by the Bank and the Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF) in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak. DRC since August 2018. Detailed information on the total funding provided by the Bank for DRC Ebola interventions is available here.

As a reminder, Ebola has spread to communities already facing serious problems such as extreme poverty and insecurity. The World Bank’s focus in the DRC is on investing in people, supporting communities, strengthening services and systems – key to resolving the crisis – and addressing the root causes of poverty. poverty and inequities that have contributed to fueling this deadly epidemic.

Olivier KAMO