GENEVA, June 28 (ANI) — The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed the appointment of a senior Ebola coordinator in Kinshasa as the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to battle an expanding outbreak of the virus.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Saturday that he had signed a joint letter, along with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, endorsing Julien Harneis as Senior Ebola Coordinator.
In a post on X, Tedros said the complexity of the Ebola response in the DRC required closer coordination across the United Nations system and humanitarian partners.
“The complexity of Ebola response in DRC demands close coordination across UN system and humanitarian partners. Together with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, I signed a joint letter to endorse the appointment of Julien Harneis as a Senior Ebola Coordinator in Kinshasa,” he wrote.
Tedros also noted earlier that conflict in the region was significantly complicating efforts to contain the outbreak, warning that war was making Ebola response operations more difficult by restricting access, scattering contacts, and forcing people into hiding due to fear and mistrust.
He added that health workers continue to operate under dangerous conditions while responding to both the virus and ongoing insecurity.
Meanwhile, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said it is expanding food and logistical assistance in eastern DRC, warning that widespread hunger could undermine efforts to contain the outbreak.
According to the UN agency, more than 1.2 million people have received food and nutrition assistance, along with logistics, telecommunications, and air support services that help sustain the health response.
The Ebola outbreak has spread across 34 health zones in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, regions already facing severe conflict, mass displacement, and acute food insecurity.
The WFP said that 30 of the affected health zones are experiencing crisis-level hunger or worse.
Since late May, the agency has provided more than 36,000 hot meals to patients, caregivers, and individuals under observation in Ebola treatment centers. Food assistance has also been delivered to quarantined communities to support compliance with public health measures.
The WFP is also transporting medical supplies and humanitarian personnel to outbreak hotspots but warned that insecurity and funding shortages continue to hamper operations.
The agency has appealed for $72 million over the next six months to sustain its emergency food assistance and logistics support as the outbreak continues to spread. (ANI)
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