UNICEF began airlifting and distributing urgently needed and life-saving humanitarian supplies to the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the overall emergency response to the growing Ebola outbreak, according to a statement late Thursday, Anadolu reports.

More than 100 metric tons of items including personal protective equipment for frontline health workers, medicine, hygiene materials and medical supplies were delivered with support from the European Union.

“We are in a race against time to contain this outbreak. The situation remains very worrying and dynamic. These emergency supplies are critical to help protect frontline workers and support affected communities, including children,” said John Agbor, UNICEF representative in Congo.

The supplies are expected to support nearly 100,000 people, including children and families who live in communities already facing a fragile humanitarian situation marked by population displacement, conflict and limited access to basic social services.

The items were airlifted from UNICEF’s global supply and logistics center in Copenhagen via a specialized humanitarian air service supported by the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, which aims to contain the spread of the virus in affected communities.

A situation report released on Wednesday by the country’s Ministry of Health showed that the number of suspected Ebola cases in Congo has exceeded 1,000 amid an increase in the eastern provinces.

The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Ghebreyesus, landed in Congo on Thursday on a trip aimed at strengthening efforts to contain Ebola in the country.

Noting the need for community responsibility for preventive measures, Tedros told reporters that the current outbreak is complex due to population displacement and insecurity in affected areas, which make it very difficult to contain the outbreak.

Source: prizrenpost