G20 donors pledge $470 million for DR Congo Ebola response

G20 countries and international donors have pledged more than $470 million in new funding to help contain an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, taking total global commitments since the outbreak began in May to more than $2 billion.

The pledges were announced after a G20 ministerial meeting on Ebola attended by donor governments, multilateral institutions and global health organisations.

The United States pledged an additional $267 million, taking its total direct support for the response to $887 million. The World Bank committed $90 million, while Britain announced $67.5 million, bringing its total support to $105.6 million.

Germany pledged a further $24.8 million, France $16 million, South Korea $18 million, Italy $11.3 million, Japan $5 million, Australia $3.5 million and the United Arab Emirates $10 million.

Scaling up response

"Global actors must scale up response activities across outbreak zones and strengthen preparedness in high-risk areas, including contact tracing, protecting frontline responders, expanding bed capacity, deploying new diagnostics, and investing in vaccine development," G20 foreign ministers said in a joint statement.

The funding will support Ebola treatment centres, protective equipment for health workers, laboratory services, burial teams, community outreach and disease surveillance.

"This disease can be defeated, as shown by the successful end of Uganda’s outbreak in August," they said.

The outbreak is concentrated in an isolated, conflict-affected area of eastern DRC and involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, according to health officials.

Response challenges

The response has been complicated by insecurity, population displacement and limited healthcare infrastructure, while officials have called for stronger surveillance, contact tracing and treatment capacity.

Donors also called for greater preparedness in neighbouring countries at risk of cross-border transmission.

The meeting brought together G20 members and other donors, including Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Qatar and the UAE, alongside organisations including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, the World Bank, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Pandemic Fund.