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• UK support announced for聽ongoing mpox and cholera outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to聽improve access to clean聽water.聽
• 聽Lord Collins made the announcement during a visit to the DRC where he also discussed how the two countries can deepen their collaboration across a range of sectors.
• 聽He welcomed the recent ceasefire in eastern DRC and commitments to bring an enduring peace to the region.

The UK has announced new funding聽to work with DRC to bolster the聽regional聽African聽response to outbreaks聽of聽mpox and cholera in the country.聽

During a visit to the Institute聽National de Recherche Biomedical (National Institute of Biomedical Research) in the DRC, Lord Collins announced 拢3.1m of UK funding for a new partnership with UNICEF that will benefit over 4.4 million people in affected communities as well as help preventing the further spread of mpox to neighbouring countries.

This funding announcement follows聽a declaration from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the upsurge of mpox in the DRC and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).聽

聽The Minister for Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury said:

鈥淲orking聽together,聽with聽our partners and using the expertise and dedication of聽Congolese scientists, including those at the world-leading research centre I have visited in DRC, our support will play an important role in ensuring global health security for all.

鈥淏y protecting the health and well-being of communities across DRC, and by helping contain these outbreaks, we reduce the risk of diseases spreading further afield.聽This will ultimately benefit us all.鈥�

The UK remains in regular contact with the WHO and the聽Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention聽on developments of the outbreak and is supporting the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa聽to respond to this health emergency.

The UK Health Security Agency is closely monitoring the situation, working聽with international partners including the World Health Organisation, European, US and Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and national public health聽agencies.

As the largest flexible donor to the WHO globally the UK is also helping it to allocate resources where most needed through vaccines and treatments. 聽As the second biggest donor to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance - providing 拢1.65bn over the 2020-2025 period - the UK is also working closely with them on ensuring access to mpox vaccines for low and middle income countries.

Professor Christian Ngandu, Public Health Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator at DRC鈥檚 National Public Health Institute said:聽

鈥淭he UK鈥檚 support to the DRC, in partnership with UNICEF, on the mpox response, will contributed to saving the lives of affected populations by aligning with the DRC鈥檚 national mpox preparedness and response plan.鈥�

The announcement came as Lord Collins visited DRC this week to bolster bilateral ties between the UK and DRC and drive forward the bilateral relationship in key areas, including climate and trade and investment.聽

The Minister announced 拢6m of new UK funding聽to provide clean drinking water and sanitation to some 200,000 displaced in partnership with UNICEF and SAFER, helping improve聽access to clean water for all.

In meetings with key government ministers including the President, the Prime Minister and the聽Foreign Minister, Lord Collins welcomed the聽UK and DRC鈥檚 strong partnership and underlined the UK鈥檚 commitment to strengthening collaboration in areas such trade, investment, climate and combatting sexual violence in conflict.

Following the successful UK-DRC Trade and Investment Mission in April, the Minister met with UK-linked businesses to discuss how the UK can play a constructive role in supporting improved supply chains of critical minerals in DRC and assist British businesses entering the DRC market.

The Minister also welcomed an announcement by British International Investment this week to invest up to $35 million (拢27 million) into the development of Banana Port, a $300-400m project led by Emirati company DP World, that will help transform DRC鈥檚 economy.

In addition, he welcomed the UK鈥檚 new 拢90m Congo Basin Forest Action programme which will look to improve economic livelihoods whilst preserving forests and nature.聽

Lord Collins also discussed聽the UK and DRC鈥檚 long-standing collaboration to combat Conflict Related Sexual Violence, meeting with government ministers and civil society to understand more about聽this issue.

On the conflict in eastern DRC, Lord Collins welcomed the ceasefire agreement between DRC and Rwanda, recognising the important role played by Angola. He expressed UK support for President Tshisekedi鈥檚 commitment to bring聽an enduring聽regional peace聽to the east聽and underlined the UK鈥檚 condemnation of the actions of all illegal armed groups in eastern DRC, including the UN-sanctioned M23.

The UK is delivering a three-year humanitarian programme in the east of DRC, providing life-saving emergency assistance and increasing the resilience of crisis-affected communities affected by the conflict.