DRC Crisis Appeal

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – a public health emergency of international concern.

The rapidly evolving outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain. This presents additional challenges, as there is currently no vaccine, and there is a high fatality rate.

To date, 600 suspected cases and 139 deaths have been reported. These are primarily in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, and 12 of the suspected cases are in Uganda.

Ebola is spreading in the DRC at a time when the health system can barely cope due to severe funding cuts to health services. The loss of funding also affected services like sanitation and people’s access to clean water.

When health resources are under strain, diseases like Ebola quickly spread unchecked.

This outbreak is serious and needs urgent attention, but it is still at a stage where decisive action can prevent a much larger crisis.

Together with local partners and authorities, Oxfam is responding to help contain the outbreak, protect vulnerable communities, and prevent further regional destabilisation.

Immediate funding is critical to prevent the uncontrolled spread of the virus and reduce the risk of a wider regional health crisis.

Donating to our DRC Crisis Appeal will help provide essential assistance, including safe water, handwashing facilities, and hygiene kits. These are vital for preventing infection and supporting healthcare facilities.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently declared an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
• Millions of people are already in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, due to ongoing fighting around the city of Goma and across North and South Kivu in the DRC.
• Over 7 million people have been displaced and left without shelter, food or water. More than half of those are women and children.
• Thousands of men, women and children have fled into neighbouring Burundi in search of safety.
• The fighting has forced people to leave the displacement camps in Goma, many of which were destroyed or looted.
• Communities are struggling to access cash to buy food or return home as banks in Goma remain closed.
• Women and girls are among the most at risk from gender-based violence.
• Aid cuts are having a devastating impact on communities that depend on humanitarian aid for survival.

People face a lack of basic essentials but the violence and scale of need is making it extremely difficult to reach people.

Together with partners, Oxfam is continuing to provide people with clean water and basic essentials to those affected by the conflict. Oxfam is working to restore critical infrastructure and treat septic tanks to help provide water and sanitation to affected communities.

Without adequate shelter and access to critical resources, the risk of disease outbreaks, is a real threat.

Oxfam has worked in DRC since 1961 and currently operates in several provinces including Equateur, North Kivu and South Kivu.

Millions of people have already been forced to flee their homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo because of ongoing armed conflict. More than 25 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Conflict, Mpox virus, Ebola and cholera outbreaks have already claimed countless lives in the country.

Please donate what you can today to help us scale up our response.

For every £1 you donate to this emergency appeal, we will allocate 9p of your donation to cover general support and running costs. There is a small chance that we will raise more money than is needed for this appeal. If this happens, we’ll spend any additional funds on other Oxfam projects – wherever the need is greatest.