[UN officials visit Congo (DRC) to assess Ebola epidemic response] September 9th, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated on September 8th, local time, that the Ebola epidemic in eastern Congo (DRC) continues to spread, and has currently caused more than 3,200 deaths. United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator Damian Mama began a four-day visit to North Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the 8th to assess the epidemic response and humanitarian situation. The Congolese government has recently launched a new phase of the Ebola epidemic response plan in conjunction with the WHO and other partners. It plans to invest US$1.3 billion in the next six months to expand epidemic monitoring, contact tracing, patient treatment, community participation and logistics support. The United Nations stated that humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remain severe. The current humanitarian response plan totaling US$2.1 billion has only received approximately US$1 billion in funding, and follow-up actions still face funding gaps. (CCTV News)