Over $700m in Ebola aid unaccounted for, African officials say

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 19:31 · Archive

Africa's top health agency says over $700 million in Ebola aid is unaccounted for in the Congo outbreak.

Africa's top public health agency and Congolese officials have raised concerns that over $700 million in Ebola aid is unaccounted for, calling on aid organisations to provide more information about their spending. Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters that $962 million from international donors has been disbursed to organisations working on the Ebola response in eastern Congo since the epidemic began, but only $200 million has been accounted for by those working on the ground.

The organisations involved include U.N. agencies such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the World Food Program, along with international charities including Save The Children and Medecins du Monde, as well as local aid groups.

The revelations raise long-standing questions about transparency and accountability in Congo. Previous Ebola outbreaks were marked by allegations of corruption and mismanagement of funds, which experts said have contributed to mistrust among local communities, complicating efforts to halt the spread. In recent months, there have been strikes by frontline healthcare and support workers in eastern Congo over unpaid salaries, bonuses and dangerous working conditions.

The current outbreak is the world's fastest-growing on record and has spread into eight provinces in Congo and into neighbouring countries Kenya and Uganda.

How it is being reported

• Millions of dollars are unaccounted for in Ebola response, officials say. This is what we know.Africa’s top public health agency and Congolese officials said that over $700 million in Ebola aid is unaccounted for, and called on organizations to provide more information about their spending.News4Jax · 19 Oct, 18:48
• Millions of dollars are unaccounted for in Ebola response, officials say. This is what we know.Africa’s top public health agency and Congolese officials said that over $700 million in Ebola aid is unaccounted for, and called on organizations to provide more information about their spending.Clickorlando · 19 Oct, 18:48

In this story: Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Congo · Dr Jean Kaseya · World Health Organization · UNICEF · Kenya · Uganda · Save The Children

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