Evian, June 16 (SANA) G7 leaders, meeting at the Evian Summit in France on Tuesday, called for a strong and coordinated response to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, warning that the epidemic has not yet peaked and could continue for another year.
In a joint statement published on X, the leaders said the outbreak poses health security risks in the DRC and Uganda and called for efforts to prevent its global spread.
The statement noted that the outbreak is centered in an isolated, conflict-affected area in eastern DRC, making containment, medical treatment and logistical response challenging. Existing vaccines, diagnostics and therapies are not fully effective against the rare Bundibugyo strain at issue.
G7 leaders said they were “deeply saddened by the loss of lives and the burden that the disease is inflicting on the affected communities” and stood in solidarity with the affected countries.
G7 pledges support for vaccines, treatments
The G7 said it is “resolved to providing and mobilizing support for a coordinated global response to facilitate the development and effective delivery of dedicated vaccines, diagnostics and treatments to fight this outbreak over the next months”.
The statement welcomed major international funding commitments, including the US rapid deployment of more than $370 million in health and humanitarian resources for the region and an additional $500 million specifically for Ebola response efforts. The EU has contributed €493 million in emergency aid, vaccines, treatment and health security in the Great Lakes and Uganda region.
The Continental Preparedness and Response Plan is mobilizing $518 million to support African countries in preparing for and responding to the outbreak .
US to convene G20 foreign ministers meeting
The G7 announced that the United States will convene a G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting to discuss further collective action and secure broader financial support for a coordinated global response to the public health emergency.
The DRC declared an Ebola outbreak on May 15—the 17th in the African country of over 100 million people—with the World Health Organization activating an international health alert two days later. According to latest WHO figures cited by AFP, 808 cases have been confirmed in DRC, including 192 deaths.
KhA
