The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak could drive nearly one million additional people into poverty in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), highlighting the growing economic impact of the health crisis.
Speaking from Kinshasa during a UN briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, UNDP Resident Representative Damien Mama said six out of every 10 people in the DRC already live below the poverty line.
Mama said more than 1,400 Ebola cases and 350 related deaths have been confirmed in the DRC and neighboring Uganda, with infections continuing to rise. He noted that more than 90% of confirmed cases are concentrated in Ituri province, a major cross-border trade hub, raising concerns about wider regional economic disruption.
According to the UNDP, the outbreak could cost Africa nearly $3.6 billion, threaten more than 300,000 jobs and result in economic losses exceeding $1 billion and the disappearance of around 55,000 jobs in the DRC, even if the outbreak is successfully contained. The agency also warned that the crisis could reduce Africa's gross domestic product by an estimated $2.37 billion.
Mama said the economic effects are already being felt, with businesses slowing, jobs disappearing and many households facing increasing hardship. He added that some families have been forced to violate isolation measures in order to survive, underscoring the need for a response that addresses both public health and socioeconomic challenges.
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