The International Organization for Migration has launched a six-month Regional Ebola Preparedness and Response Plan seeking USD 55.8 million to strengthen coordinated action across 11 countries. The appeal follows the latest Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and aims to prevent the virus from spreading further across the region.
So far, USD 20 million has been secured, leaving a funding gap of about USD 35 million. The funding will support preparedness and response measures in areas affected by displacement, insecurity and high levels of cross-border movement.
The outbreak is centred in communities where people frequently cross borders for trade, work, family visits and access to essential services. This makes surveillance, screening and trusted public health communication especially important in controlling transmission.
IOM said an effective response must reach communities affected by conflict and displacement while maintaining surveillance at formal and informal border points. The organization also emphasized the need to build trust in areas where fear and misinformation have caused some communities to question public health interventions.
As part of its response, IOM has already conducted more than one million health screenings at borders, cross-border routes and travel corridors across Ebola-affected and at-risk countries. These efforts are being expanded as the outbreak affects eastern DRC and Uganda.
The situation in eastern DRC is particularly challenging because the outbreak is unfolding in areas already affected by conflict, displacement and insecurity. Families are facing disruption to daily life, including reduced access to markets, workplaces and essential services, while health systems remain under pressure.
Insecurity has also disrupted response operations in some locations. Attacks on health workers and unstable conditions can delay case detection, contact tracing and other essential public health measures.
Cross-border movement remains one of the biggest challenges in controlling the outbreak. IOM says maintaining safe mobility while strengthening screening, surveillance, quarantine, isolation and infection prevention systems is essential to reducing the risk of wider regional spread.
The appeal highlights the importance of rapid, coordinated and well-funded action. Without sufficient resources, one missed case could increase the risk of further transmission and make containment more difficult across highly mobile border communities.
Overall, IOM’s USD 55.8 million Ebola response plan aims to protect vulnerable communities, strengthen border health systems and support regional preparedness. The funding will be critical to stopping the spread of Ebola while allowing people to move safely for work, trade and essential services.
