Ebola Crisis Appeal: how you can help

On Friday 15 May, Ebola was declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The outbreak occurred in Ituri, an area of the DRC where Tearfund has been working for ten years.

This is a densely populated area where hunger, conflict, and extreme poverty are rampant. News of the outbreak has devastated the area and sparked fear and uncertainty in neighbouring countries like Uganda, where cases have already been detected.

As of 3 June 2026, there have been more than:

• 60 deaths
• 360 confirmed cases

The nature of this health emergency means these numbers are changing by the minute. The people of the DRC and surrounding countries are at the mercy of this virus. And for this strain, there’s a 50 per cent mortality rate and no cure.

How Tearfund is responding

Tearfund has a long history of working in the DRC. And we’ve responded to outbreaks of Ebola in the past.

Right now, Tearfund is working with local partners and faith leaders to deliver life-saving hygiene supplies and information about how to stop the virus from spreading. Our Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions are operating in health centres and at border points to prevent the risk of spreading Ebola.

But to stop the virus in its tracks, we need to do more – and quickly. People in the DRC and neighbouring countries are still at risk, including Tearfund staff and local partners bravely continuing their work in the area. You can help us respond today.

God calls us to show compassion for our neighbours – near and far. His love leads us to respond in times of crisis.

Please, follow Jesus’ love to the grieving families, frightened children, and anxious communities affected by this deadly outbreak.

A message from Tearfund’s Country Director for the DRC

Poppy Anguandia, Tearfund’s Country Director for the DRC, recently returned from Ituri. She told us:

‘We can waste no time in mobilising faith leaders to prevent the spread of Ebola. Pastors are already spreading vital advice on washing hands, seeking medical help at the first sign of symptoms, and issuing guidelines on how to handle dead bodies, to curb the spread of disease.’

Jesus’ love is already at work in the DRC. Will you follow him?

There is a small chance that we receive more funds than this crisis requires, or that some funds cannot be used in full towards this response. If that happens, your donation will be used to respond where the need is greatest around the world.