Binance has pledged $250,000 in emergency humanitarian funding to support frontline efforts responding to an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
The funding will be split equally between the Uganda Red Cross Society and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), with a focus on strengthening medical care, outbreak containment, community awareness, and protection for frontline health workers operating in high-risk areas.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a strain of Ebola for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment exists has placed significant strain on already fragile health systems in eastern DRC and neighbouring regions. Health authorities and humanitarian organisations are working to contain transmission while expanding access to emergency care and preventive interventions.
Binance said the funding will support critical response activities including contact tracing, infection prevention and control measures, community education campaigns, and the provision of sanitation and protective equipment for medical teams.
A central focus will be improving rapid response capacity in underserved and hard-to-reach communities, where limited infrastructure and delayed access to public health information continue to heighten transmission risks.
“Communities across Africa continue to show extraordinary resilience in the face of complex challenges, but frontline responders should not have to face crises like this alone,” said Richard Teng, co-CEO of Binance. “The teams working to contain the Ebola outbreak are delivering vital, life-saving support under incredibly difficult conditions. We are proud to support both the Uganda Red Cross Society and MSF as they work to protect vulnerable populations and strengthen local response efforts.”
Robert Kwesiga, Secretary General of the Uganda Red Cross Society, said the support would enhance response capacity at a critical moment. “Strong partnerships are essential during public health emergencies. The support from Binance comes at a crucial time and will help us respond more rapidly, reach more at-risk communities, and reinforce frontline services needed to contain the outbreak and save lives.”
MSF Emergency Programme Manager Trish Newport said the spread of cases across multiple health zones and into cross-border areas underscored the urgency of the response. “The number of cases and deaths we are seeing in such a short timeframe, combined with insecurity and limited access to healthcare in some regions, makes rapid action critical to prevent further escalation.”
Binance said the initiative forms part of its broader engagement in Africa, which includes programmes in education, digital skills development, financial inclusion, and community empowerment.
The company also called for increased private-sector participation in humanitarian response efforts, arguing that corporations operating in Africa should play a greater role in supporting communities during public health emergencies.