Ebola is spreading rapidly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). There have already been 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths, which numbers expected to rise further. The World Health Organisation has declared an international health emergency.

We have teams in DRC right now, ready to help communities as the deadly Ebola virus spreads. But we need funding to reach more families. And to help save lives.

Your donation will go to our Emergency Fund, helping our teams to respond as quickly and flexibly as possible as the crisis develops. Will you make an urgent gift today?

Donate to our Emergency Fund now

The situation in DRC

The situation is evolving fast and it’s difficult to confirm the scale of the emergency. The WHO declared an emergency following the confirmation of Ebola in Ituri province, the epicentre of the breakout. Cases have been identified in Mongbwalu – where Action Against Hunger works – and have now reached the major city of Goma. This is the Bundibungyo strain, for which no vaccine or treatment exists.

Global aid cuts, including a drastic reduction in aid from the UK government, and decades of violent conflict means communities in DRC are even more vulnerable to the deadly outbreak. 

We can’t look away. Help save lives today by donating to our Emergency Fund. 

Page last updated: 20 May 2026

DRC's humanitarian crisis

  • 27.7m

    Approximately 27.7 million people are facing food insecurity, meaning they don't know where their next meal is coming from.

  • 4.9m

    DRC is host to almost 5 million internally displaced people, fuelling waterborne diseases.

  • 598,165

    In 2025, Action Against Hunger reached almost 600,000 people through our work.

How is Action Against Hunger helping?

We have over 280 staff in DRC and last year we reached almost 600,000 people across the country. Our work focuses on improving health and nutrition, mental health support and stopping the spread of diseases. 

We’re one of the only organisations working in the mining district of Mongbwalu, an area with a lot of traffic and people moving through – complicating the control of the virus and tracing cases.

“We are very concerned about the situation in a context where humanitarian needs are extremely high. In the province of Ituri, our teams on the ground have already purchased and distributed protective equipment to limit the risk of contamination in health centres.”

Julie Drouet, Country Director for Action Against Hunger in DRC

Donate to our Emergency Fund

Action Against Hunger’s Emergency Fund

The recent Ebola outbreak across the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a stark reminder of how quickly humanitarian crises can escalate. The WHO has now declared an international health emergency, with concerns growing about the speed of the spread and limited treatment options currently available.

In emergencies like this, the first hours and days are critical. While public appeals and international funding mechanisms are still mobilising, Action Against Hunger’s Emergency Fund enables our teams to start responding immediately – deploying expert staff, supporting rapid assessments and reaching vulnerable communities before crises get worse.

Our Emergency Fund is designed to support:

  • rapid humanitarian response within hours
  • underfunded and forgotten emergencies
  • pre-emptive action before situations escalate

Donate to our Emergency Fund

Please note: Any funds raised over and above the needs of this crisis will be allocated to other areas of our emergency response work.

Photo credits: Action Against Hunger/ Moses Sawasawa