NAIROBI, Kenya-Emergency humanitarian flights carrying critical medical supplies have departed Nairobi for eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as international agencies intensify efforts to contain a worsening Ebola outbreak that has spread across several provinces and into neighbouring Uganda.
The shipments are part of a broader response led by the European Union, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other humanitarian partners seeking to strengthen frontline health systems in the affected areas.
According to the United Nations, emergency supplies including personal protective equipment (PPE), medical kits and treatment equipment have been mobilised through regional logistics hubs, including Nairobi, to support response operations in eastern DRC.
The latest airlifts come as the Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, continues to pose a major public health threat in the region.
The strain currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, making rapid detection, isolation and community engagement critical to controlling its spread.
UNICEF and the European Union recently mobilised more than 100 metric tonnes of emergency supplies destined for eastern DRC.
The shipment includes essential medicines, infection prevention materials, protective gear, cholera and malaria treatment supplies, tents and operational equipment needed by health workers battling the outbreak.
The aid is expected to support approximately 100,000 people in affected communities.
The European Commission has also allocated an additional €15 million (about KSh2.2 billion) in humanitarian assistance to support emergency operations, preparedness and prevention efforts in both DRC and Uganda.
Officials say the funding will help strengthen surveillance systems, treatment centres and cross-border preparedness measures.
WHO says the outbreak is unfolding in a particularly challenging environment marked by insecurity, population displacement and high levels of cross-border movement.
Health authorities are racing to improve contact tracing, testing and treatment as cases continue to rise.
As of early June, health officials in DRC had reported hundreds of confirmed Ebola cases and dozens of deaths, with Ituri Province remaining the epicentre of the outbreak.
Cases have also been recorded in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, while Uganda has confirmed infections linked to the regional outbreak.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who recently visited the outbreak zone, said the response requires sustained international support and strong community cooperation to prevent further spread of the virus.
He noted that while some patients have recovered, significant challenges remain in reaching affected populations and gaining public trust.
The emergency flights underscore Nairobi’s growing role as a regional humanitarian and logistics hub, with Kenya serving as a key staging point for medical and relief operations targeting health emergencies across East and Central Africa.
