Disease, conflict and food shortages continue to ravage the Central African nation.

A charity has launched an emergency appeal to deliver relief to people suffering from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The epidemic – the tenth outbreak of the disease in the country – has been ongoing since August 2018.

To date it has infected more than 2200 people and claimed more than 1400 lives, making it the second largest in history.

The outbreak is also having a wider impact on the country, as people fleeing the disease are adding to the DRC’s already-high numbers of displaced populations and putting extra pressure on limited resources.

Christian Aid’s online appeal will ask supporters to donate cash that can be used by the charity to build health infrastructure in the country and fund information campaigns to slow the spread of the virus.

Esperant Mulumba, the charity’s DRC manager, said: “This is a crisis of grave proportions, and time is running out. The Ebola virus has overwhelmed our fragile health infrastructure, in a country where more than 12 million people already desperately need humanitarian aid. To make matters worse, the epidemic has hit a region blighted by instability, armed violence, widespread displacement and food shortages.

“For a range of reasons, there has been denial about the existence of Ebola among some communities, leading to widespread mistrust in the health system and resistance to health workers – even attacks, in some cases. This has made it incredibly difficult for agencies, including our own Ministry of Health, to run an effective Ebola operation. All these factors have seriously undermined efforts to curb the outbreak.

“That is why the response to this epidemic cannot be limited to health work. It is critical that we work alongside communities – and through trusted local figureheads like faith leaders and traditional leaders – to combat widespread fear and distrust about the disease and its causes.”