Press encounter by United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, on Ebola outbreak.
Let me begin with a word about the horrifying flooding in Nepal and China. I extend my deepest condolences to families of the victims and express my solidarity with all those affected. The United Nations is mobilizing supplies and humanitarian teams and we pledge to support national efforts to deliver emergency aid and support. I want to provide an update on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, along with an urgent appeal to step up action to get it under control. My main message is this: The outbreak is the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic on record. It is growing faster and wider than the response to contain it. But it can be stopped. We know how to contain Ebola – how to interrupt transmission – and how to save lives. But we must also overcome another virus – the virus of indifference. Because international attention, political focus and resources are still lagging behind the reality unfolding on the ground. The Ebola crisis is first and foremost a human tragedy affecting families and communities on an extraordinary scale. It is now the largest Ebola outbreak in the history of the DRC. As of August 25th, 5,713 cases have been confirmed, claiming 2,744 lives. And with about 500 new cases being reported every week, the outbreak continues to expand across a vast area – with women and children being hit especially hard. The challenge is immense. We are facing a public health emergency in one of the world's most fragile settings. For example, three decades of conflict in Ituri province alone have displaced one million people and severely weakened access to food, healthcare and other basic services. Across the region, more than 12 million people need humanitarian assistance and protection. Meanwhile, health systems are overstretched. Infrastructure is weak. Entire communities remain difficult to reach. Frontline workers are also operating under perilous conditions. More than 40 health workers have lost their lives in the effort to save others. Health workers have been infected. Treatment centres and ambulances have been attacked. Humanitarian personnel face both the threat of the virus and the threat of violence. They deserve our recognition and support. The Government of the DRC is heading up the response – with the United Nations, led by the World Health Organization, and partners teaming up to assist. We have appointed a UN Senior Ebola Coordinator – and are aligning behind 5 priorities. First, community engagement is being expanded to build trust and counter fear and misinformation. Second, surveillance systems are being strengthened to identify and isolate cases more rapidly. Third, treatment and care capacity are being increased. Fourth, safe and dignified burial operations are being expanded. And, fifth, we are working to stop Ebola from spreading further. The Congo River and busy routes across the region connect millions of people and communities. And so we are reinforcing preparedness and coordination with South Sudan and the Central African Republic. Africa CDC is also playing a critical role, mobilizing expertise and solidarity from across the region. Together with many dedicated partners, these efforts are helping to build an integrated response on the ground. But let's be clear: Every gap in funding and operational support makes the Ebola response more challenging. We are doing everything possible to invest in that response – including through more than $80 million from UN pooled funds and support from partners. We have put forward a detailed $2.13 billion humanitarian needs and response plan. This is 48% funded – thanks in large measure to a major contribution by the United States. But current resources will last weeks – not months. Without additional funding, vital operations will run out of money just when they need to expand. That is why I am appealing for the remaining $1.1 billion to fully fund the humanitarian response plan, recognizing that even more will be needed in the future. The world still has an opportunity to get ahead of this crisis. But time is not on our side. The Ebola outbreak deserves far greater attention than it is receiving today. The communities affected deserve far greater assistance. And the response deserves far greater support. The world has the knowledge, the means, and the resources to stop this outbreak. It is time to summon the collective determination to act before the cost becomes more deadly, more difficult, and more expensive. Thank you.
