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Over 1,000 suspected cases and more than 240 suspected deaths from Ebola. The numbers are still climbing.
A new Ebola outbreak is spreading across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - one of the most complex humanitarian emergencies in the world. As of 27 May 2026, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern.
There's no vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has a fatality rate of up to 50%. Prevention is how we stop it. And prevention depends on trusted local partners reaching communities first.
Christian Aid's partners are already responding. Your support helps them go further, faster.
Why are communities in the DRC so vulnerable to Ebola?
Decades of armed conflict have fractured health systems, forced millions from their homes, and left over 27 million people in urgent need of food.
Living conditions also increase the risk of rapid transmission. Around 65% of the population lacks reliable access to clean water, and most households do not have adequate sanitation. These conditions make it far easier for diseases like Ebola to spread.
Women are disproportionately affected, making up around 60% of cases, because caregiving responsibilities often fall to them, increasing their exposure to the virus.
At the same time, global aid cuts have weakened the country’s ability to track and contain outbreaks and respond effectively to treat patients.
The risk of a wider emergency is real too. The DRC shares borders with nine countries and the region has high cross-border population movement. Cases have already crossed into Uganda. So without effective action now, this could spread far further.
Your donation today funds the prevention work that stops the spread.Ebola has deepened an already critical humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC. Ebola is not just a health emergency. It is a crisis layered onto conflict, displacement, and poverty - intensifying decades of humanitarian, social, and economic hardship.
How Christian Aid is responding to the Ebola outbreak
Christian Aid's partners are in the affected communities right now. Together, we're focusing on preventing the spread of Ebola to protect families most at risk.
Trusted church leaders are amplifying health messages and challenging misinformation. Community health workers are reaching churches, schools and markets with information that helps families stay safe.
Our partners, Communauté Baptiste au Centre de l'Afrique (CBCA), Bureau Œcuménique d'Appui au Développement (BOAD) and the Eglise Anglicane du Congo led the response to the 2019 Ebola outbreak and the 2025 Mpox crisis. They know what works.
With your support, our partners can:
- Reach 350,000 people with safe health messages which save lives
- Fund community health workers visiting churches, schools and markets with Ebola prevention information
- Provide 1,200 families (around 6,000 people) with hygiene kits containing soap, buckets and jerry cans for handwashing
- Set up nearly 50 public handwashing points to slow transmission
This is a moment that calls for both urgency and generosity… You can help equip local churches and partners to respond swiftly and effectively, protecting lives and bringing hope to communities facing immense challenges. Every gift can make a real and immediate difference.
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Loving God, you see us and know us.
You are present with us in times of suffering.
We pray to you for all people affected by the Ebola outbreak.
Comfort those who are ill,
Sustain those who grieve,
Watch over those who deliver care.
We pray for the safety and health of our partners and medical staff as they treat those affected.
We pray for strength for communities and families in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
We pray that breakthroughs will come swiftly as new vaccines and treatments are developed.
We pray that the world would unite to take action and to support our global neighbours.
Loving God, we ask this in Jesus’ name