The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns over the growing impact of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda on children and vulnerable families.
In a statement issued on Monday, the agency warned that insecurity and weak access to health services could worsen the humanitarian situation.
It added that the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus poses significant risks to children, especially in conflict-affected communities in the eastern DRC, where access to healthcare and humanitarian assistance remains limited.
The outbreak, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), has already recorded 528 suspected cases and 132 deaths across both countries.
UNICEF stressed the need for urgent support for affected governments to strengthen outbreak response measures and prevent wider regional transmission.
