Geneva, 23 June 2026 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has initiated a comprehensive six-month plan to combat the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), aiming to secure USD 55. 8 million. With USD 20 million already allocated, a funding shortfall of approximately USD 35 million remains.
The plan is designed to reinforce collaborative efforts across 11 countries, focusing on areas where the virus has the potential to spread due to high levels of cross-border movement and displacement.
The initiative emphasizes reaching communities heavily impacted by conflict, displacement, and insecurity, which are central to the outbreak’s geographic focus. Ugochi Daniels, the IOM’s Deputy Director General for Operations, highlighted the urgency, noting, “Responding effectively requires maintaining surveillance where cross-border movements persist and building trust in areas where fear and misinformation are prevalent. “.
In an effort to combat the virus, IOM has conducted over one million health screenings at borders and key cross — border routes.
The organization’s efforts have expanded to support control measures in eastern DRC and Uganda, where the outbreak is most acute.
The situation is further complicated by pre — existing conflicts and displacement, leading to daily life disruptions for affected families, including restricted access to markets, workplaces, and essential services.
The plan also addresses the heightened vulnerability of health systems under pressure to provide timely response measures. To ensure effective intervention, the plan underscores the need for maintaining surveillance at all border points, both formal and informal, while also enhancing access to accurate, timely, and credible health information.
In certain regions, the presence of insecurity and attacks on health workers have compounded the response efforts, hindering case detection and contact tracing. Blate David, a National Medical Officer with IOM, emphasized the criticality of thorough screening, stating, “One missed case can change everything. “.
The ongoing challenge of cross — border movement remains pivotal in controlling the outbreak, necessitating the maintenance of safe mobility alongside the enhancement of screening and surveillance systems.
Additionally, the plan calls for bolstering isolation, quarantine, and infection prevention capacities within affected areas. For more information on the IOM’s response to the Ebola outbreak, interested parties are encouraged to visit the organization’s Media Centre.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
—
This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: reliefweb
Source: International Organization for Migration
