The UN has said new estimates from humanitarians in East Africa indicate that nearly 67 million people in the region need assistance.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing reporters in New York.

“That is more than 20 per cent of the total number of people in need globally. The region is facing some of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, driven by climate change, conflict, political instability, economic shocks and disease outbreaks,’’ he said.

Measles and mpox outbreaks continue, with at least 776 mpox cases reported in the region as of September 26.

“The Marburg virus is now spreading. At least 29 cases have been confirmed in Rwanda, and that includes nine fatalities,” Mr Dujarric said.

Most of the cases so far have been among health workers. Just under 300 contacts have been registered and are being followed up, said the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Marburg virus disease is a severe and often fatal zoonotic haemorrhagic illness caused by the virus, usually transmitted to humans from fruit bats.

Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with an infected person’s body fluids or equipment and materials contaminated with infectious blood or tissues. There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for MVD.

Mr Dujarric said that the UN’s humanitarian partners continued assisting millions across East Africa.

“However, by the end of last month, only 38 per cent of the 9.3 billion dollars required for humanitarian response efforts in East Africa this year was available, constraining our – and our partners’ – ability to scale up,” the UN official stated. 

(NAN)