Ebola leaves more than 1,900 children without parents or caregivers in eastern DR Congo
More than 1,900 children have lost or been separated from parents or caregivers since the Ebola outbreak began in eastern DR Congo in May, UNICEF says. By 29 September, at least 2,076 children had been confirmed with Ebola and 1,162 had died, according to UNICEF’s analysis of health ministry data; Kenya has also confirmed its first case and death, believed to have come from DR Congo.
Bottom line — UNICEF says the DR Congo response needs €104.3 million (US$113.4 million), but only €36.9 million (US$40.1 million) has been mobilised.
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UNICEF says children account for over one in four confirmed cases but roughly one in three deaths; among children under five, seven in ten confirmed cases have been fatal.
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UNICEF identified 1,581 affected children in Ituri and 322 in North Kivu by 28 September, but says the figures cover only areas where it works with social affairs teams.
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UNICEF says 214 children living and working on the streets of Bunia also need protection, facing heightened risks of infection, exploitation and violence.
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UNICEF supports 12 nurseries near Ebola treatment centres in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, providing care and monitoring for children whose caregivers are ill or who have been exposed.
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UNICEF is seeking €138.6 million (US$150.8 million) for its Ebola response overall and says preparedness is needed in 11 neighbouring countries.
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The WHO said Kenya’s first reported case was likely imported from DR Congo; it was seeking further details with Kenyan authorities.