France to step up Ebola funding in Congo amid resurgence fears

In a bid to prevent the rapid resurgence of Ebola, France plans to intensify its financial support for the epidemic's containment in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced during a visit to the affected region. The Foreign Minister's trip to Bunia, a northeastern Congolese city, came in the wake of a laboratory-confirmed case of mpox, which was detected there in mid-September. Between January and July, France had allocated €13.4 million ($15.1 million) to the fight against Ebola.

Barrot announced that he would propose additional humanitarian funding for Ebola during upcoming French budget deliberations. The French government's response to the resurgence fears is primarily through humanitarian aid, medical research, and the PRISM programme, which was initiated during President Emmanuel Macron’s 2023 visit to Congo. A national humanitarian conference is scheduled to take place in Paris on October 6, where Ebola will be a key topic of discussion.

Barrot emphasized that even though Ebola may seem distant to some political leaders, it has the potential to swiftly resurface. He urged all parties involved to take responsibility for preventing such resurgences. The French Foreign Minister commended Congolese authorities, UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, and medical workers for their efforts in containing the epidemic and preventing its spread to major urban centers in Congo and beyond.

When asked about the possibility of the virus spreading following a case reported in France, Barrot stressed that the focus should remain on fighting the epidemic where it emerges.