Oxfam has launched a response to the outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo which has so far officially claimed three lives.
Oxfam's team on the ground will be working in the communities in the area of the outbreak, providing them with information about the virus, ways to prevent it from spreading, and how to keep healthy. Oxfam is committed to spending an initial $68,000, and is aiming to increase that to at least $250,000.
The outbreak started in Bikoro, in Equateur Province in the north western part of the country earlier this month. The virus is believed to have spread to neighboring areas.
Oxfam has an office in Mbandaka, just north of Bikoro, and have been working in the area for many years. Currently we implement an active Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in schools project.
Millions of people are caught up in humanitarian crises in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The conflicts are raging in Ituri, a province that borders Uganda; the northeastern provinces of North and South Kivu; and recent conflicts have left millions of people hungry and in risk of disease in the Kasaï provinces and in the eastern province of Tanganyika.
Oxfam Country Director, Jose Barahona is available for interview.
