Donate to protect children against
Ebola and infectious diseases
Children’s lives are at risk as Ebola and other infectious diseases spread
Right now, a rare strain of Ebola is spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and beyond. The World Health Organisation has declared it a global health emergency.
Disease outbreaks, including Ebola, put children’s lives at serious risk, especially in already fragile settings. Children are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases due to their developing immune systems, and illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria remain among the leading causes of death in under-fives.
Your donation will help us respond quickly to disease outbreaks around the world, getting help where it’s needed most, from emergency teams on the ground to lifesaving supplies for children and families.
Just £5 a month could help vaccinate 160 children against deadly diseases.
Please donate today.
How Ebola and infectious disease outbreaks impact children
Ebola is a highly infectious disease that spreads through close contact with bodily fluids, causing severe symptoms like fever and vomiting, and in some cases internal bleeding and organ failure. Without rapid treatment, it can be fatal. In addition, there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this rare strain spreading through DRC.
In communities already facing conflict and displacement, access to clean water and healthcare can be limited, creating the conditions for Ebola and other diseases to spread faster.
Many of the diseases that put children at risk during outbreaks are entirely preventable, yet deep inequalities continue to limit access to essential services. Millions of children globally still do not receive routine vaccinations, and challenges accessing clean water, sanitation or nutritious food can leave them more exposed to infection and less able to recover when they fall ill.
When an outbreak occurs, these existing pressures intensify and already fragile health systems can become overwhelmed. This can disrupt basic services such as immunisation, maternal care and treatment for common childhood illnesses, making it harder for children to access timely, life‑saving care.
Without your support, the impact of these outbreaks can last a lifetime.
What your donation can do
Ebola and other infectious diseases can be contained. Stopping it depends on fast action, identifying cases early, preventing contact with infected bodily fluids, giving patients supportive care, and helping communities stay safe through the right information and tools.
This is a serious and fast-moving situation. But with the right support, it is still possible to prevent a much larger crisis.
With the help of you and our partners, we can:
- Deliver safe water, soap, and hygiene supplies to prevent infection
- Provide protective equipment for health workers and communities
- Support children who have lost family members or been separated
- Share life-saving information to stop the spread of the virus
UNICEF has decades of experience responding to Ebola outbreaks and working with communities to prevent transmission and protect children. We’ve already mobilised emergency supplies and rapid response teams – but more support is urgently needed to reach every child at risk.
Your donations helps fund vital work around the world that save lives, keep children safe, and give them the chance of a better future, wherever the need is greatest. Donate now.
Why donate monthly?
As a children’s charity, we work with families, communities and governments in over 190 countries to address both the root causes and immediate impacts of the challenges children face.
We respond in moments of crisis, while also staying for the long term to help build stronger health systems and safer, more resilient communities where children can survive and thrive.
By setting up a regular donation, you become part of this life‑saving work, helping protect the world’s most vulnerable children today and supporting their futures for years to come.
Donate by phone
If you’re in the UK and would prefer to make a donation by phone, you can call our dedicated donation line: 0300 330 5699. For other ways you can donate please refer to our Donation FAQs.
