DR Congo emergency: Next 24 hours are critical, warn UN agencies
[January 28, 2025]
[Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo]
The United Nations is warning that the next 24 hours are critical for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), as aid agencies struggle to reach hundreds of thousands of people affected by a massive cholera outbreak.
The outbreak has already killed more than 1,000 people and infected more than 26,000, according to the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO). The majority of cases are in the capital, Kinshasa, but the outbreak is also spreading to other parts of the country.
“The next 24 hours are critical,” said Dr. Peter Salama, WHO’s Deputy Director-General for Emergency Response. “If we don’t get aid to the people who need it now, we could see the outbreak spiral out of control.”
Aid agencies are facing a number of challenges in reaching affected communities. Insecurity is a major concern, as armed groups are active in many parts of the country. In addition, the lack of infrastructure and the poor state of roads are making it difficult to transport supplies.
The UN is calling on the international community for urgent assistance. “We need more funding, more supplies, and more personnel,” said Dr. Salama. “We also need the Congolese government to do more to support the response.”
The cholera outbreak is the latest in a series of crises that have hit DR Congo in recent years. The country is also facing a humanitarian crisis, with millions of people displaced by conflict and food insecurity.
The UN is urging the international community to not forget DR Congo. “The people of DR Congo are in desperate need of our help,” said Dr. Salama. “We cannot let them down.”
DR Congo emergency: Next 24 hours are critical, warn UN agencies
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