Ebola outbreak pushes nearly 10 million in eastern Congo to brink of starvation

World Food Programme (WFP) chief Carl Skau warned that the Ebola epidemic in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo is deepening an already severe food crisis. He said the outbreak has worsened conditions for more than five million people already facing critical food shortages, bringing the total number of people on the verge of starvation to almost ten million. In the 48 health zones affected by Ebola, over 2.7 million are experiencing food insecurity, including 628 000 in urgent need. "The situation is now worsening because of Ebola. Markets are hit, supply chains are disrupted and people are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain enough food," Skau said. Since the epidemic was declared on May 15, 3 360 cases and 1 487 deaths have been recorded, and movement restrictions have driven up food and fuel prices. WFP has distributed more than 160 000 hot meals to patients, contacts and health workers in 17 treatment centres. Local residents, such as a mother of six children in Mongbwalu, describe how the combined effect of conflict, displacement and Ebola measures makes feeding their families almost impossible.