Tokyo: The Government of Japan has announced a USD 3.5 million Emergency Grant to address the Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. This financial aid is aimed at providing humanitarian assistance in critical sectors such as health, water, sanitation, and hygiene.
According to African Press Organization, this aid will be implemented through collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The assistance aims to curb the spread of the Ebola virus not only within the affected nations but also to prevent it from crossing into neighboring regions.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the grant will be distributed among several initiatives. The IFRC will receive USD 1.5 million for health-related activities, while UNICEF will be allocated USD 0.5 million for water, sanitation, and hygiene projects. Additionally, WFP is set to receive USD 1 million for logistical support, and a further USD 0.5 million will be directed to the IFRC for health interventions in Uganda.
As of the latest reports, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed 956 cases of Ebola, resulting in 247 deaths and with 92 patients having been discharged. Meanwhile, Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases, with 2 resulting in fatalities and 14 patients having been discharged.