IAF's C-17 Globemaster III Delivers 45 Tonnes of Ebola Relief Supplies to Uganda

India has expanded its support for Africa's fight against Ebola, dispatching more than 45 tonnes of emergency medical supplies through the Indian Air Force (IAF) as health authorities warn of a worsening outbreak in Central and East Africa.

An IAF C-17 Globemaster III aircraft delivered a 43-tonne consignment of medical assistance to Kampala on June 2 as part of the second tranche of India's aid package for the Africa CDC . The shipment followed an earlier delivery of about 2.5 tonnes in May, taking India's total Ebola-related assistance to over 45 tonnes of aid .

The cargo included personal protective equipment , diagnostic and monitoring devices, medicines, infection-prevention materials, sample transport kits and nutritional supplements. The assistance was provided in response to a request from the African Union Commission and is being coordinated through Africa CDC's Eastern Regional Coordinating Centre in Uganda.

Africa CDC thanked India for the support, saying the supplies would strengthen response operations in affected communities, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) , which remains the epicentre of the outbreak. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the aid would help bolster public health preparedness and disease-control efforts across the continent.

The shipment arrives as the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to monitor the outbreak, which is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Health agencies have warned that cross-border movement, conflict, displacement and funding shortages are complicating containment efforts and increasing the risk of further regional spread.

Several countries have tightened health screening measures and travel restrictions in response to the outbreak. Against this backdrop, India's humanitarian airlift has emerged as one of the most significant international assistance efforts, highlighting the role of the IAF's C-17 Globemaster III fleet in supporting global emergency response operations.