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European Commission - Statement Press Remarks by Commissioner Lahbib in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the Ebola Outbreak Addis Ababa, 8 June 2026 Europe is Africa's long-standing partner. We have shown up before, and we are showing up again. That is why I went to Bunia yesterday and why I am in Addis today. This Ebola outbreak has already claimed hundreds of lives and continues to spread. It often strikes those caring for...
European Commission - Statement Press Remarks by Commissioner Lahbib in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the Ebola Outbreak Addis Ababa, 8 June 2026 Europe is Africa's long-standing partner. We have shown up before, and we are showing up again. That is why I went to Bunia yesterday and why I am in Addis today. This Ebola outbreak has already claimed hundreds of lives and continues to spread. It often strikes those caring for others: doctors, nurses, the hands that hold the sick. Ebola touches us all, and that is what makes our response so urgent. The European Union stands firmly with the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and the wider region. Yesterday in Bunia, I met the people on the front line: doctors, nurses, lab technicians, humanitarian workers, and emergency responders. Every day they put their lives at risk. Their courage is extraordinary. Their message to me was clear: no country should fight Ebola alone. I heard the same from Dr Kaseya and the WHO. The leadership of Africa CDC and the WHO has been essential and without them, the situation would be far worse. Health emergencies are a collective responsibility. We stood with Africa during mpox. As Team Europe, we delivered over 600,000 vaccine doses. Real partnerships are not only built in good times, they are proven in hard times. Today we are being tested again and we are stepping up, which is why I am here today with Dr. Kaseya. The partnership between the European Union and Africa CDC is built on a shared goal: strengthening the capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to health threats. Two years ago, we formalised that partnership with an ambitious Administrative Arrangement. Since then, we have worked side by side. Right now, there is no approved vaccine or treatment for this strain of Ebola, but research and development is under way, and we are not powerless. Our most powerful weapon now is speed. The faster we detect the virus, the faster we save lives. That means trained health workers, reliable labs, and rapid testing. We also need to bring testing directly into communities, so no case goes undetected and no contact goes untraced. This is how we will build a clearer picture of how far and how fast this outbreak is spreading. The European Union is stepping up our support. First, we are providing an additional €6.5 million to strengthen the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative, helping Africa CDC equip frontline teams, train healthcare workers, strengthen surveillance systems. Second, in response to the Continental Response Plan we will donate €5 million worth of testing equipment, including rapid diagnostic devices and PCR kits, deployed fast and where they are needed most. We are investing €2 million in wastewater monitoring because sometimes the water tells us what the clinics have not yet discovered. On the research front, the EU is supporting the development WHO with the development of clinical trial protocols. We are also investing in new antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, and have signed a €73 million partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to develop the next generation of filovirus vaccines. We are not just fighting today's outbreak, we are investing in a future where we will be better equipped to prevent, detect and stop the next one. At the same time, the EU is continuing our strong humanitarian support. We have already allocated €15 million in emergency assistance for DRC and neighbouring countries. When I was in the Great Lakes region in February, I asked all parties for humanitarian access to alleviate suffering, provide assistance, and prevent precisely this kind of emergency. Significant progress has been achieved. Now that the outbreak is here, we need that access more than ever. A ceasefire is a medical necessity, supporting life-saving care, protecting health workers, and strengthening surveillance, especially in hard-to-reach areas like Ituri. Two weeks ago, an EU humanitarian flight with UNICEF delivered 100 tonnes of emergency supplies to eastern DRC: medicines, tents, and protective equipment. We are now planning five more flights to Bunia. Viruses do not stop at borders. They do not care about politics. Health security is a shared responsibility. There is only one way that works: global cooperation. It is the gold standard for tackling health emergencies. That is exactly what we are showing here today with Ebola. Europe will continue to stand with Africa CDC, with WHO, and with the communities on the front line of this outbreak. This is about more than containing a virus. It is about proving that when lives are at stake, the world can still come together and act. You can count on the European Union. STATEMENT/26/1303
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