About the Crisis

The recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa was the deadliest since the disease was first discovered in 1976, with more people killed than all previous known outbreaks of the virus combined. By March 2016, there were 11,316 reported deaths and 28,639 confirmed, probable and suspected cases recorded in the most severely affected countries – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone all have very weak health systems and have only recently emerged from long periods of conflict and instability. The Ebola outbreak paralyses entire societies and creates a need for urgent medical assistance.

The Dutch Relief Alliance Response

The Joint Humanitarian Response for Ebola (JRE) addressed the direct humanitarian needs as well as the indirect consequences related to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The response was implemented in the three countries most affected by the recent outbreak – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Participating organisations supported safe burials, provided health care and food support, ensured safe access to water and sanitation facilities and raised public awareness about the disease. The major results included:

• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in more than 180 health facilities was constructed or rehabilitated
  More than 90,000 hygiene kits were distributed to schools and families in quarantine
  More than 30,000 people received food, cash, seeds or agricultural tools
  More than 500,000 people were reached with awareness raising activities. People were informed about the symptoms of Ebola, how Ebola infections could be prevented and what to do when a family member shows symptoms of Ebola.