Africa’s top public health agency and Congolese officials said on Tuesday that hundreds of millions of dollars in international Ebola aid are unaccounted for. They called on aid groups to provide clear financial records.
This follows the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record, which continues to outpace containment efforts. The virus has spread into eight provinces in Congo, along with neighboring Kenya and Uganda.
Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke to reporters last week. He stated that international donors have disbursed $962 million since the epidemic began for work in eastern Congo.
Organisations working on the ground have only accounted for $200 million. These groups include United Nations agencies such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the World Food Program, alongside international charities like Save The Children and Medecins du Monde, and local aid groups.
Only one-third of these organisations attended a recent meeting organised by the Congolese health ministry to share financial records, according to Kaseya. Those present reported receiving $228 million, with $127 million spent and roughly $100 million still available.
Kaseya did not specify which organisations failed to report their finances. The Africa CDC issued a statement criticising the lack of financial reporting.
"This represents a significant lack of transparency and financial reporting on the part of these organisations, preventing the Government from having a comprehensive overview of the resources mobilised, how they were used and the results achieved," the agency said. Kaseya said the agency will work with Congolese authorities to investigate the missing funds.
Congolese authorities stated that they have not received any money directly from international donors. Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba told the Congolese Press Agency that the government has restricted ground operations by granting accreditations to only 25 out of nearly 100 previously authorised organisations.
Communications minister Patrick Muyaya told reporters that the funds were not paid into the general treasury. "We must know who received what and who is doing what on the ground. All partners must be able to provide us with this information," he said.
Authorities reported on Sunday that the outbreak has reached an eighth province in the country’s north. Since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, officials have recorded at least 9,400 cases and more than 4,500 deaths, making it the deadliest in the nation’s history.
The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo virus, which currently lacks an approved vaccine or treatment. The spread is driven by mass population movements, rebel violence, community mistrust, and poor working conditions for frontline health staff.
