DR Congo: Ebola claims over 1,000 lives, Guterres commits 'whole' UN system, to help 'end the outbreak'.

Now in its tenth month, the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has claimed more than a thousand lives, prompting Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to throw the support of 'the whole United Nations system' into stemming the spread of the deadly virus.

Mr. Guterres expressed concern over the number of new Ebola cases in the east of the DRC on Wednesday, reiterating UN support 'for efforts to end the outbreak'.

'With important shifts in the response now being implemented, the Secretary-General has emphasized his commitment to a collective UN-wide approach, both in Kinshasa, where the UN is led by his special representative, and in the areas affected by the virus, where the response is led by WHO [World Health Organization], all in close liaison with Congolese leaders both in Kinshasa and eastern DRC', said his Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, in a statement on behalf of the UN chief.

Full involvement and engagement of local people remains the key - UN chief

Mr. Guterres expressed his condolences to the victims' families and reiterated that the full involvement and engagement of local people 'remains the key to successfully controlling the outbreak'.

He also urged 'all Congolese leaders to work together across parties and across communities to tackle the outbreak'.

'At this critical juncture', Mr. Guterres underscored the need for 'additional resources' and called on Member States and partner organizations 'to ensure the responding agencies have the resources needed to succeed'.

The Secretary-General commended the Government, institutions and Congolese people themselves on the overall response so far, which has contained the outbreak to within parts of two provinces, which are home to multiple armed groups, which have been battling each other and Government forces for years.

He also applauded 'the bravery of security, health and humanitarian workers who have put their lives on the line in a challenging environment marked by conflict...

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