Q&A: Why humanitarian aid is important to stop the spread of Ebola | Story

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo – The latest Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo comes after the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Armed conflicts and inter-communal violence have disrupted many communities, while insecurity has prevented health workers from reaching many areas, especially in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Officials say a lack of access is hampering case detection, investigation and treatment, while communities that have long been in need of help are still questioning the response to Ebola.

Al Jazeera talks to Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about humanitarian challenges that hinder response, funding gaps and what it will take to end the crisis.

Al Jazeera: What are the priorities?

Jean Kaseya: We are in a region where almost a million people are living in refugee camps. These people cannot find even the most basic jobs and getting to those camps is a big problem.

Some of the people who are coming from the camps to seek medical treatment tell us that there are many cases there, but we cannot find them. We are talking about two million people.

Al Jazeera: You can’t go there because of security?

Jean Kaseya: We can’t go there because of security concerns, which have nothing to do with the gangs and the conflict between the Hema and Lendu people. The people living in these camps have not received treatment for a long time.

When medical workers go there to inform people about Ebola, people ask: “Why are you coming now?

They tell us that they don’t have enough water, food or medicine for other illnesses.

They ask the volunteers: “Why are you coming here because of Ebola?” It is a difficult question to answer.

Al Jazeera: You recently met with the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Felix Tshisekedi and the Chairperson of the African Union and the President of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye. What came out of those meetings?

Jean Kaseya: We met with two heads of state along with the Ebola response team and the ministry of humanitarian aid. We saw that we need about $1.4bn over the next six months to tackle this problem if we are to stop the spread.

At our meeting on June 16, we received pledges of $910m, but it was only for the health response. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has provided $50m of the $200m requested for health.

Now, because of the increasing number of people’s problems, the needs are being re-evaluated. We are talking about $1.4bn on top of the $200m needed for the health response.

Al Jazeera: $1.4bn is a lot of money at a time of donor fatigue. Why is the amount of money important?

Jean Kaseya: I want to make this clear. Without addressing the humanitarian crisis, we cannot stop the spread. This is what makes this epidemic more difficult and difficult than we have seen in the past.

You can’t have an Ebola outbreak without dealing with these issues.

Al Jazeera: How will you get the money?

Jean Kaseya: It is a matter of choice. No one is protected. If our friends are serious, they will provide the funds needed to stop this current outbreak.

If they don’t take action and tomorrow the outbreak is out of control, they may be affected. Then they realize that fighting this epidemic in their countries will cost five to 10 times more than what we are asking today to stop it at its source.

Al Jazeera: Another big challenge is tracking your contacts. Why?

Jean Kaseya: One of our main indicators is that we are seeing cases coming from refugee camps. There are three or four major camps and we are struggling to get contacts there.

Most of the people affected by this problem are between the ages of 15 and 45. They are young and financially active. Anyone who has the virus must be isolated and monitored for 21 days, which means they cannot go to work or run their businesses.

We have to pay them, give them food and give them a place to stay. Some of them don’t even have a house.

Al Jazeera: What is your biggest concern?

Jean Kaseya: The case fatality rate is now approaching 25 percent and we don’t know where things are going.

We know that the death rate from Ebola is usually about 20 percent, but the symptoms we are seeing are changing. Some are different from what we have seen in previous diseases. There are still many unknowns.

We need to provide the necessary support to stop this virus. Closing the border is not the answer.

These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.