Jagan Chapagain

The latest outbreak of Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a serious concern. With the existing emergency appeal the @IFRC is actively supporting the local response of the DRC Red Cross to strengthen safe and dignified burials, and risk communication and community engagement, while mobilising volunteers to counter misinformation and strengthen community trust. At the same time, Safe and Dignified Burial (SDB) kits are on the way to Ituri via the Entebbe corridor from IFRC logistics hub in Dubai. Additional kits are being mobilized from Kinshasa to the affected area, together with vehicles and additional quantities of personal protective equipment. We have also deployed experienced experts to complement the national efforts. We are using the approach that has worked so successfully in previous outbreaks: “as local as possible, as international as necessary.”

As Uganda responds to a confirmed Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, the @IFRC has released funds from its @IFRC_DREF to support the Red Cross response on the ground and help contain the spread. Alongside health authorities, @UgandaRedCross teams are driving localized efforts, including risk communication and community engagement, surveillance support, and safe and dignified burials (SDB). Thank you to our IFRC-DREF donors who enable us to get people and cash to disasters – fast.

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Tadateru Konoe, former President of the @IFRC and the Japanese Red Cross Society, whose life was defined by humanity, humility, and service to others. A compassionate and principled leader, Mr. Konoe leaves a lasting legacy in the millions of lives reached through the humanitarian work he championed, and in the values of humanity and compassion he so deeply embodied. My heartfelt condolences go to his family and to our colleagues at the Japanese Red Cross Society @JRCS_PR. ifrc.org/article/ifrc-m…

On behalf of the @IFRC, I extend my warmest wishes to all those celebrating #EidAlAdha. In these challenging times, may this Eid bring peace, strength, and renewed hope to you and your loved ones.

In Uganda, where imported Ebola cases have already been confirmed, the @IFRC is supporting a full public health response. Red Cross teams are working closely with the Ministry of Health and partners to ensure communities in high-risk areas receive timely support, accurate information, and lifesaving humanitarian assistance.

Your support to the @IFRC emergency appeal in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries will help us strengthen community engagement and accountability, protect the most vulnerable, and support early recovery. 👉ifrc.org/emergency/afri…

Heartbreaking news from Afghanistan. We have been informed about the passing of two members of staff from the Afghan Red Crescent Society @ARCSAfghanistan.

Thanks to Reuters for this piece highlighting how the IFRC network is supporting communities at the centre of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where building trust is essential. Supported by the @IFRC, Red Cross volunteers are going door to door to share trusted health information, counter misinformation, and encourage early care-seeking, critical work that helps reduce the spread of Ebola. reuters.com/business/healt…

Deeply saddened by the loss of three dedicated volunteers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo Red Cross in Ituri Province, who are believed to have contracted the Ebola virus on duty, while carrying out dead body management activities on 27 March as part of a humanitarian mission unrelated to Ebola. At the time of the intervention, the community was not aware of the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, and the outbreak had not yet been identified. They are among the first known victims of the outbreak. On behalf of the @IFRC, I extend my heartfelt condolences to their families, loved ones, fellow volunteers and colleagues. We stand in solidarity with the DRC Red Cross during this painful time. The IFRC, together with the DRC Red Cross and the ICRC, remains committed to supporting affected communities and strengthening the Ebola response. Our statement. 👇

Today at #WHA79, I attended the high-level launch of Mozambique’s National Cholera Elimination Plan at the IFRC. Leaders and global health partners came together around a shared commitment: ending cholera as a public health threat through preparedness, community action and sustained investment. Cholera is preventable and treatable, no one should die from it.

Ebola response efforts are scaling up across the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries. The @IFRC has launched an emergency appeal to support frontline action, from community engagement and surveillance to safe and dignified burials, infection prevention, cross-border coordination and preparedness in at-risk countries. This support is critical to help National Societies protect communities, counter misinformation and reduce the risk of further spread. 👉ifrc.org/emergency/afri…

Community health workers are the bridge between health systems and people. They prevent disease, detect risks early, respond to crises and connect communities to care. At today’s Community Health Delivery Partnership meeting, hosted at @IFRC headquarters on the margins of #WHA79, our message is clear: community health must be a cornerstone of stronger, fairer health systems.

We are scaling up our Ebola response across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and neighbouring countries, with a CHF 29M regional emergency appeal. Already, the @IFRC and in-country partners are mobilising at scale to reinforce the response of the DRC Red Cross. Across the region, we are working closely with National Societies to strengthen both response and preparedness. This outbreak is unfolding in fragile settings where speed, trust and community engagement are critical.   We must act now. I call on the international community to stand in solidarity and support this lifesaving effort. ifrc.org/press-release/…

Pleased to attend the Civil Society Roundtable on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) in Humanitarian Settings, held @IFRC headquarters on the margins of the #WHA79. The discussion brought together governments, UN agencies, civil society, academia and humanitarian partners to address a growing reality: NCDs are a crisis within a crisis in humanitarian settings. People affected by emergencies still need continuity of care for diabetes, hypertension, cancer, respiratory disease and mental health conditions, yet this care is too often disrupted when crises hit. Across the IFRC network, 92 National Societies are already delivering NCD programmes through millions of volunteers and thousands of health facilities, even in the hardest contexts. The task ahead is clear: move from commitment to implementation by integrating NCDs and mental health into emergency preparedness, investing in community-based and locally led systems, and strengthening coordination and financing. Thank you to all co-sponsors and partners for your commitment.

Pleased to welcome Hon. Nisha Mehta, Minister of Health and Food Security for Nepal (@mohpnep), to IFRC for a constructive exchange on global health issues. Important reflections with relevance for Nepal and beyond.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a rapidly evolving public health emergency. The @IFRC is scaling up its response. We know that supporting a five-pillar approach is what works: - Community engagement & social mobilization - Surveillance & contact tracing - Case management - Safe & dignified burials - Psychosocial support for affected families The @IFRC has activated its highest emergency response level, expanded its Emergency Appeal for funds and is deploying specialized public health teams to the affected areas. Essential supplies, including safe and dignified burial kits from Kinshasa and Dubai, personal protective equipment (PPE), and vehicles are on their way. IFRC staff are also working with DRC Red Cross teams, helping train them on how best to engage with communities to counter misinformation and deliver trusted, life-saving health guidance to affected families. The outbreak is dire, but we are fighting back.

The outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Ituri Province, in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, has led @WHO to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. 
With the Bundibugyo strain involved, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment, strong public health measures, rapid coordination, and sustained community engagement will be critical to contain the outbreak. 
The Red Cross Society of the Democratic Republic of Congo, supported by the @IFRC and partners, is already working alongside health authorities to scale up response and preparedness efforts.  
Strong community trust and engagement will be key to help stop the transmission. The Red Cross network is uniquely placed to support these efforts through its long-standing presence and trusted relationships within affected communities.

A new Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in Ituri Province, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with hundreds  of suspected cases reported and over suspected 80 deaths. A case has also been confirmed in Uganda. The evolving epidemiological situation, and the risk of cross‑border spread, underscore the need for timely, coordinated and sustained action. Engaging with communities and building trust is essential to ensure people seek care early and help stop the epidemic in its tracks. Across our network, Red Cross teams are already on the ground supporting communities by providing life‑saving information, strengthening health responses, and helping ensure no one is left behind. The @IFRC is mobilising surge capacity and scaling up support to meet growing needs.

The @IFRC network continues its vital work, delivering humanitarian assistance to people in need. In Ukraine, following the recent attacks in Kyiv and western regions, the @RedCrossUkraine, alongside the emergency services, swiftly mobilized to provide critical humanitarian assistance to those affected and ensure that help is available when it’s needed most. This is the strength of local action, with our IFRC network teams on the ground responding quickly, in coordination with local partners, to reach people affected as close as possible to the communities they serve.

The IFRC has activated emergency protocols following concerning reports of suspected Ebola cases in Ituri Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), by @AfricaCDC. The IFRC is working alongside the Red Cross Society of the DRC and health authorities to support preparedness, surveillance, community engagement and safe and dignified burials. The DRC has extensive experience in responding to Ebola outbreaks. Red Cross volunteers are already playing a critical role in strengthening community awareness, supporting surveillance efforts, performing safe and dignified burials, and building trust in affected communities. The IFRC continues to closely monitor the situation.