The United Nations warned Wednesday that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda could worsen a food crisis in the region as the virus has spread beyond its initial epicenter to additional areas.
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, citing rising cases, cross-border spread and significant uncertainties about the scale of the epidemic, and allocated an additional 3.4 million U.S. dollars from its contingency fund for emergencies.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters that the UN chief called for efforts to help address global humanitarian needs, including emerging challenges such as the Ebola outbreak.
"On the ground, our colleagues at WFP (World Food Programme) are telling us today that the Ebola outbreak could worsen food insecurity unless access constraints are overcome and assistance is scaled up," he said.
As of May 19, the DRC has reported more than 500 suspected cases and at least 130 deaths. Uganda has confirmed two cases, including one death.
Currently, 26.5 million people in the DRC face severe food insecurity. In the eastern part of the country -- the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak -- nearly 10 million people are experiencing crisis or emergency levels of hunger.
Ebola outbreak could worsen food crisis in Central Africa: UN
A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday slammed Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te over his latest remarks on cross-Strait relations, accusing him of promoting secessionism and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a press release that Lai's speech marking his second anniversary in office was "filled with lies and deception, hostility and confrontation."
Chen accused Lai of stubbornly adhering to a secessionist stance in pursuit of "Taiwan independence," while exaggerating the so-called threats from the mainland and intensifying confrontation across the Strait.
Lai played an old trick of advocating the secessionist agenda on one hand and, on the other, calling insincerely for dialogue and exchanges with the mainland, attempting to mislead people in Taiwan and deceive the international community, he said.
Chen said that these common tricks have been seen through by more and more Taiwanese people. Their deceptive and provocative actions will be met with firm opposition from compatriots on both sides and the international community, and are doomed to fail.
Reaffirming the mainland's position on the Taiwan question, Chen said Taiwan has never been a country, is not one now, and will never become one in the future.
He described the Taiwan question as a historical issue left over from a Chinese civil war in the 1940s.
No election result in Taiwan could alter the fact that Taiwan is part of China or sever the historical and legal bonds linking the two sides of the Strait, according to Chen.
The mainland would never allow any person or force to pursue secessionist activities under any pretext, he added.
Calling secessionists "the chief culprit" who undermines cross-Strait peace, Chen said the mainland would continue to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, unite broadly with Taiwan compatriots, combat secessionist activities, and safeguard peace and stability across the Strait.
Central government spokesperson refutes Lai Ching-te's latest remarks, warns against secessionist moves
