UNDP Warns Ebola Outbreak Could Cost Africa $3.6 Billion

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central and East Africa could inflict heavy economic losses on the continent if the virus spreads beyond its current affected areas.

According to the agency, Africa could lose as much as $3.6 billion in economic output and more than 328,000 jobs if the outbreak expands into additional countries.

The warning follows the World Health Organisation's declaration in May that the Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda constitute a public health emergency of international concern.

Although the WHO said the situation does not currently meet the criteria for a global pandemic under the International Health Regulations, it expressed concern over the increasing risk of cross-border transmission.

Presenting a new assessment of the outbreak's potential economic impact, the UNDP stated that the scale of the damage would largely depend on how quickly health authorities succeed in containing the virus.

The agency estimated that if the outbreak remains largely limited to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, the DRC alone could lose approximately $1 billion from its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

However, the report warned that the economic consequences would become significantly more severe if the disease spreads into neighbouring countries such as Rwanda and Angola.

UNDP added that a wider regional outbreak, combined with rising global fuel prices linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, could increase Africa's economic losses to $3.6 billion while eliminating about 328,000 jobs across the continent.

Speaking on the findings, the UNDP Resident Representative in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Damien Mama, stressed that a stronger international response could still prevent the worst-case scenario.

According to him, providing adequate resources and strengthening containment efforts remain critical to stopping the spread of the virus and limiting both the humanitarian and economic impact of the outbreak.

The report highlights the urgent need for coordinated action by governments, international organisations and development partners to contain the disease and protect Africa's economic recovery.