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Emergency Response Program

Ebola

THE SITUATION IN BRIEF

What You Need to Know

The Ebola virus is a severe, often fatal disease that has a death rate of up to 90 percent. Since the virus was first identified in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been a number of outbreaks in Africa but none nearly as devastating as the last outbreak that killed more than 10,000 people. 

Since the first case of the newest outbreak was identified in March 2014, there have been more than 24,000 cases of infections reported—virtually all of them in Sierra Leone, Guinea or Liberia.

Numbers

How Did Ebola Affect Children and Their Families?

The outbreak also exacted a crippling toll on the economies and healthcare systems of the three countries, which were mired in poverty before the Ebola outbreak. The epidemic led to increased poverty, food shortages, lack of drinkable water and limited access to medical centers—many of which were shut down to avoid spreading the disease.

SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES IMPACT

What SOS Children's Villages Did to Help

Across the three Ebola-affected countries, SOS Children’s Villages is currently helping to raise more than 800 children among eight different villages. Once we ensured the safety of the children and staff within our villages, we helped support the local communities.

In Sierra Leone, for example, we evaluated the needs of children orphaned by Ebola, welcoming some into our villages and providing others with food, medical care and psychological support. In addition, when Sierra Leone shut down schools last September, we provided home study materials to the more than 2,000 students who attend our six schools in Makeni, Bo and Freetown.
YOUR COMPASSION IN ACTION

Thanks to generous people like you, we have been able to change the lives of hundreds of vulnerable children and families affected by Ebola.

 

Emergency Response Successes

At SOS Childen's Villages, we're working, striving and learning. Everyday, we're transforming children's lives.

Make a difference-become part of the SOS family today. 

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