Kinshasa: UNICEF has initiated the airlift and delivery of urgently needed humanitarian supplies to the Democratic Republic of Congo in response to the intensifying Ebola outbreak, as revealed in a statement late Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, more than 100 metric tons of essential items, including personal protective equipment for frontline health workers, medicines, hygiene materials, and medical supplies, have been delivered with the support of the European Union.

John Agbor, UNICEF's representative in Congo, emphasized the urgent need for these supplies, stating, "We are in a race against time to contain this outbreak. The situation remains highly concerning and dynamic. These emergency supplies are critical to help protect frontline workers and support affected communities, including children." The provisions are intended to assist nearly 100,000 people, including children and families, who are living in communities already burdened by population displacement, conflict, and limited access to basic social services.

The supplies were transported from UNICEF's global supply and logistics hub in Copenhagen via a specialized humanitarian air service, supported by the European Commission's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. This initiative aims to prevent the virus from spreading further within the affected communities. A situation report released by the country's Health Ministry on Wednesday indicated that the number of suspected Ebola cases in Congo has exceeded 1,000, with a significant increase in cases across the eastern provinces.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Ghebreyesus arrived in Congo on Thursday to support efforts to contain the outbreak. He highlighted the necessity for community ownership of preventive measures, noting that the current outbreak is complicated by population displacements and insecurity in the affected areas, which pose significant challenges to containment efforts.