Statement by Minister Brophy on boosting Irish Aid funding for Irish NGO’s combatting Ebola threat

In response to the Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea, Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy TD, has announced €350,941 in Irish Aid funding for GOAL, Plan International Ireland and World Vision Ireland to support efforts by communities and national governments to control the outbreaks.

Minister Brophy said:

"COVID-19 has forcefully demonstrated the vulnerability of the world to infectious disease outbreaks. It has also taught us the crucial importance of fast, no-regrets responses. I am pleased to be able to announce this funding to our NGOs partners, putting our policy commitment, to leaving no one behind, into action."

Notes

Ebola virus disease is a severe haemorrhagic fever, with a case fatality rate from 25% to 90%. Fruit bats are thought to be the main reservoir. Transmission is mostly from human to human. It can spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people through lesions in the skin or membranes. An outbreak of Ebola in West Africa in 2013-16 killed over 11,000 people.

As of 23 March, there were 23 cases in the DRC and 18 in Guinea; 6 deaths in the DRC and 9 in Guinea

Irish Aid Ebola funding Allocations are going to World Vision in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Plan International in Guinea, and GOAL and Plan International in Sierra Leone. Allocations are made under the Emergency Response Fund Scheme, which enables humanitarian NGOs to respond to the onset of a sudden emergency. In 2021, Irish Aid has allocated €4.5m to seven humanitarian partner NGOs through the scheme.