France boosts aid to Congo as Ebola outbreak prompts billions in international pledges

During the National Humanitarian Conference in Paris, the French foreign minister disclosed that France will raise its financial aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo to strengthen the response to the Ebola crisis, which has resulted in more than 4,000 deaths since mid-May. He described the outbreak as a global health challenge. The United States announced an additional sizable allocation, bringing its total support to a substantial figure.

Since the disease was officially declared, a coalition of states, supranational bodies and private entities has promised close to three billion dollars to help the DRC overcome the most lethal Ebola episode it has ever faced. French contributions remain modest compared with the larger sums pledged by other partners. The increased funding aims to expand treatment capacity, vaccination efforts and surveillance across affected regions.