The United Nations has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) could cost African economies up to $3.6 billion, threaten tens of thousands of jobs, and push nearly one million more people into poverty if the crisis worsens.
In a statement, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said the outbreak is creating a far-reaching socioeconomic crisis that could drive an additional 985,000 people into poverty, with women expected to be among the hardest hit.
According to the agency, beyond the immediate health emergency, travel restrictions, border controls and disruptions to trade are severely affecting local economies, informal businesses, education and healthcare services across the region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the DRC has recorded 1,333 confirmed Ebola cases, 399 deaths, and 189 recoveries, while neighbouring Uganda has confirmed 20 cases. UNDP Africa Regional Director Ahunna Eziakonwa said Ebola’s impact extends beyond hospitals, affecting livelihoods, food security, trade, public finances and public trust.
She warned that treating the outbreak solely as a health crisis risks overlooking its broader development consequences. Even if the virus is successfully contained in the DRC and Uganda, UNDP projects that the DRC could suffer more than $1 billion in GDP losses and lose around 55,000 jobs.
Across Africa, trade disruptions, transport delays, reduced consumer confidence and interruptions to informal markets could cut continental GDP by approximately $2.37 billion.
The agency urged governments and partners to provide direct cash support to vulnerable households, replace blanket border closures with targeted health screening, and establish emergency funding to ensure essential maternal, reproductive and child healthcare services continue during the outbreak.
The latest Ebola outbreak is centred in the conflict-affected Ituri Province in eastern DRC and is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
