UN World Food Programme Starts Distributing Emergency Aid to Ebola Victims

Emergency food aid is being distributed by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) among Ebola victims and others affected by the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo's troubled North Kivu province.

"This 10th Ebola outbreak //is unfolding in an area of active armed conflict and displacement," said WFP's director in Congo, Claude Jibidar.

Ebola Virus Disease | Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever: Cause Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment
Ebola is caused by a virus via direct contact with body fluids or infected blood. Scientists have identified five types of Ebola or Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus.

‘The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is being delivered to villages in the epidemic-stricken areas; and patients and caregivers in hospitals.’

Tweet it Now

"It poses a risk of a regional health emergency involving three countries - DRC, Rwanda and Uganda," Jibidar said.

"With its food assistance, logistics and air support already firmly in place, WFP is committed to do even more, to save lives and to prevent the epidemic from spreading," he stated.

Before Ebola broke out in North Kivu on August 1, WFP was already assisting hundreds thousands of people displaced by armed conflict in the populous province, the UN agency said.

In Beni territory, the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak, 12,000 displaced people had been receiving monthly food rations since July and WFP is now stepping up its operations there to assist also those affected by the epidemic.

WFP is providing food to patients and caregivers in hospitals located in the towns of Mangina and Beni.

Incurable Diseases - Causes, Risk Factors, Complications, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention
Incurable diseases are disorders of infectious, non-infectious, genetic, metabolic, neoplastic or autoimmune nature that do not currently have a cure.

Provisions are also being delivered to villages in the epidemic-stricken areas, with the further aim of limiting population movements which could spread the virus further, the agency said.

Some 4,000 people are receiving a one-month supply of cereals, beans, oil, and salt. To reinforce the response to critically ill patients, WFP is airlifting high energy biscuits into Goma from Dubai.

Marburg Virus Disease - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention
Marburg virus is an animal virus that has infected the human race and first reported from Marburg. The virus is incidentally from the same family as the one that causes Ebola.

The biscuits are often used in emergencies as they are light, easy to transport and do not need cooking facilities.

A total of 111 cases of Ebola have been recorded since the beginning of the epidemic - 83 confirmed cases and 28 probable cases, WFP said. Over 4,000 people have been vaccinated against the virus.

Source-IANS