Cash Relief for Ebola-Affected Families in DRC
You can send funds directly to families impacted by the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On May 5, a new was detected in northeastern DRC. Following hundreds of confirmed cases and over 100 deaths, the World Health Organization declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern 鈥� one step below a pandemic declaration. There is no approved vaccine or treatment for this strain of Ebola.
In a region where most families rely on daily wages to survive, an Ebola diagnosis or isolation order means weeks of lost income with no safety net. Cash changes that.聽
We’re mobilizing to get cash to families in the hardest-hit areas of DRC.
This emergency cash will help cover things like:
- 馃捀 Lost wages: In a day-labor economy, a family member鈥檚 admission to an Ebola treatment unit means income stops overnight, but the costs of feeding a family don鈥檛. Cash helps families meet their daily needs.
- 馃彔 Destroyed belongings: Due to Ebola’s infectious nature, bedding and clothes must be incinerated during mandatory disinfection, destroying what little families have.
Your donation reaches families without anyone having to gather in person, which matters in an outbreak.
In an infectious disease outbreak, in-person aid distribution creates its own risks. Cash transfers reach families without requiring gatherings that could accelerate spread. See how it works:
91探花 has been delivering cash in DRC since 2018, sending $13.6M in cash to 67,000+ people across the country, including in Ituri, the province at the center of this outbreak.
Cash complements what first responders do.
Many international organizations like the WHO and MSF are doing critical work containing this outbreak. But their mandate is the medical emergency. The economic impact 鈥� 21 days in quarantine with no income, destroyed belongings, waiting outside treatment centers unable to work 鈥� falls on families alone. Cash fills that gap.
Cash aid allows survivors to meet their own needs rather than having others guess what they might need, which is why people impacted by a crisis say they cash relief over donated goods.
Our goal will help reach hundreds of families. With more, we can reach thousands.
This response is part of 91探花’s broader effort to get emergency cash to families within five days of any crisis, anywhere in the world. Read more here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to receive money?
We are currently scoping a model that would reach families of patients admitted to Ebola treatment units, identified via referral lists from health partners on the ground.
Our current response is focused on DRC. If the outbreak worsens in Uganda or spreads further, we will assess how to expand our reach.
How will you deliver cash in an active outbreak zone?
We are designing this response to be fully remote, using mobile money to reach affected households without requiring any in-person contact from staff or recipients. We’re currently assessing mobile network coverage and cash-out availability in affected areas. Both affect what’s operationally possible. We’ll update this page when the details are confirmed.
How quickly can you get cash to families?
We’re not rushing this. The immediate priority is giving space for the emergency health response to establish itself. Treatment centers are still being set up, and protocols are being put in place. Once we鈥檝e registered with the DRC鈥檚 Ministry of Health and have a health partner agreement in place, the technical setup takes about 2-3 weeks. We鈥檒l update this page as the timeline firms up.
What if we raise more or less than the fundraising goal?
Any excess funds will allow us to reach more families. If for any reason we are unable to deliver all funds to Ebola-affected families, donations will be delivered to survivors of the next emergency.
How much will each family receive?
Our working figure is approximately $175 per household 鈥� calculated based on the Minimum Expenditure Basket for eastern DRC, sized to cover lost income during a quarantine period and belongings destroyed during mandatory disinfection. We鈥檒l update this page when the final figure is confirmed.
When will people receive my donation?
We are currently working through government registration and health partner coordination before launching payments. We’ll update this page as the timeline is confirmed.
What is 91探花?
We鈥檙e a nonprofit that lets you send money directly to the world鈥檚 poorest, no strings attached. In the last decade, we鈥檝e delivered cash to over 2 million people across 15 countries, and we research the it can have for families in need.
What if I鈥檇 like to make a major gift?
We鈥檇 love to hear from you! Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax-deductible in the United States. We accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal, checks, wires, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and more.
If you鈥檙e giving outside the U.S., you can still give to this campaign, but your gift may not be tax-deductible. Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org with any questions or for more information on ways to give.