The UN has called on the international community to step up aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo amid the Ebola outbreak.

The United Nations has called on the international community to step up support for the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is experiencing an unprecedentedly rapid spread of the Ebola virus. The disease has already spread to six provinces, and efforts to contain it are complicated by ongoing armed clashes and a weak healthcare system.

According to UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, approximately 11 million people in the DR Congo require humanitarian assistance. A $2.1 billion funding plan has been developed for the country, $300 million of which is allocated directly to the Ebola response. However, donors have so far provided only about half of the required funds. Over $57 million has been allocated from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support the DR Congo and neighboring countries.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the infection has exceeded 3,000. According to the latest data from the National Institute of Public Health of the DR Congo, 6,186 cases have been confirmed, including 3,007 deaths. The mortality rate has reached 48.6%. More than 1,400 people have recovered, and another 830 patients are undergoing treatment or in isolation.

Authorities continue to implement anti-epidemic measures in six provinces. The situation remains most tense in Ituri province, where the current outbreak began. The country also previously launched an immunization campaign with the Ervebo vaccine, originally developed to combat a different strain of the virus.

It was previously reported that scientists believe the most likely cause of the current outbreak is a new case of animal-to-human transmission. Genetic analysis has shown that the strain causing the current epidemic is different from those that caused previous outbreaks.