People living close to the epicentre of a deadly Ebola outbreak have told the BBC of their fear, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned cases may be spreading faster than originally thought.

One man in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s northeastern Ituri province said infected people were dying “very fast”, adding: “Ebola has tortured us.”

The virus is believed to have killed 136 people in the DR Congo, officials say, with more than 514 cases now suspected in the country. One person has died in neighbouring Uganda.

The WHO’s Dr Anne Ancia told the BBC that the more the UN agency investigates the outbreak, the clearer it becomes cases have spread to other areas.

Modelling by the London-based MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis released on Monday suggested there had been “substantial” under-detection, and that it could not rule out there had already been more than 1,000 cases.

The study suggested that the current outbreak is “larger than currently ascertained” and that its “true magnitude remains uncertain”.

A man who spoke to BBC News and identified himself as Bigboy said people are “really scared” and doing what they can to protect themselves.

He said locals are taking precautions such as washing hands with clean water, but added that he wished they could get access to other protective supplies such as face masks.

Another Ituri local, Alfred Giza, said people in the community are aware of the threat and waiting to receive face masks to protect themselves, but that he would not know what to do if a family member or friend contracted the disease.

The Red Cross warned that Ebola can escalate quickly if cases are not identified early, communities lack information and health systems are overwhelmed, adding “we are seeing all those conditions” in the current outbreak.

On Tuesday, DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi called for “calm” and urged Congolese citizens to remain vigilant, after holding a crisis meeting on Monday evening.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who declared the outbreak an international emergency last week, said he was “deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic”.

He declared the emergency late on Saturday night – before the WHO’s emergency committee met to assess the situation and recommend priority medical interventions, which it is due to do soon.

The cash-strapped organisation has already released almost $4m (£3m) to combat the outbreak – but much more may be needed.

The outbreak is taking place in a region which has suffered years of conflict, with hospitals and clinics damaged or destroyed, and millions fleeing their homes. Most are living in unsanitary conditions.

There are also more than 11,000 refugees who have fled fighting in South Sudan, and big population movements among people seeking work in local gold mines.

It is feared the outbreak may have been ongoing for several weeks before it was first detected on 24 April.

There is no vaccine for the strain of Ebola virus fuelling the latest rise in cases, but the WHO is evaluating whether other drugs may provide protection.

Speaking to BBC Newsday, Ancia said DR Congo’s Ituri province was a “very unsecured area with lots of movement of population”, making it difficult for the agency to investigate and help control the disease.

She continued: “The more we are investigating this outbreak, the more we realise that it has already disseminated at least a little bit across border and also in other provinces.”

The outbreak has spread to the province of South Kivu, where the population has been affected by a humanitarian crisis for many years, she added.

There has also been a case in eastern DR Congo’s biggest city, Goma, which has a population of around 850,000 people and is under the control of Rwandan-backed rebels.

High levels of insecurity in several provinces mean people move around often, increasing the risk and spread of the virus, she said.

Several African countries are taking precautions by tightening border screenings and preparing health facilities. Neighbouring Rwanda has also closed its borders with the DR Congo. Uganda has told people to avoid hugging and shaking hands.

An American citizen, belived to be missionary group doctor Peter Stafford, was evacuated from the DR Congo after developing symptoms over the weekend.

Germany’s health ministry told the BBC a US citizen was taken to the country for treatment.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said at least six other Americans who were exposed were also being evacuated. On Tuesday, the agency said it was in the process of moving the Americans to Germany and the Czech Republic, where they would be monitored for symptoms in quarantine.

The WHO and other agencies are working with governments and communities to try to stop the spread of the virus, urging residents to follow preventative measures and report to the nearest health facility if they experience any symptoms.

What is Ebola and how does it spread?

No Riyan Parag? No Ravindra Jadeja? No fast start for Vaibhav Sooriyavanshi? No problem for Rajasthan Royals (RR) as they hunted down 221 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and moved up to No.4 on the points table. If RR also win their final league game against Mumbai Indians on Sunday, they will firm up their playoffs spot, irrespective of other results.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the present Government, having taken upon its shoulders the aspirations of all heroes who sacrificed their lives for the pride of a free nation, is firmly committed to building a model country founded on peace and development.

The President further stated that Sri Lanka, which for centuries has been guided by Buddhism, rooted in boundless loving-kindness, non-violence and compassion towards all living beings, is a country where humanity rises above ethnic divisions.

President Dissanayake also emphasised that, instead of following the destructive and tribalistic path that sows hatred and anger among people, the present Government has chosen a path that leads the country towards unity, development and prosperity while safeguarding the lives of its people. He stressed that the Government would proceed along this path fearlessly and with determination.

The President made these remarks while addressing the 17th National War Heroes’ Day Commemoration held on Tuesday afternoon (19) at the War Heroes Memorial in Battaramulla.

The National War Heroes’ Day Commemoration, which marks the victory that ended the civil war that lasted for more than three decades, was held with pride under the patronage of the Commander-in-Chief President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

A special feature of this year’s commemoration, organised by the Ranaviru Seva Authority, was the increased opportunity provided for a larger number of war hero families to participate.

Speaking further, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said:

“We are gathered here today to pay tribute and honour to our heroes who contributed immensely to liberating the motherland.

Today, 17 years after the end of the war, we gather here before this War Heroes Memorial to remember the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country and to fulfil the aspirations for which they fought.

At this moment, we respectfully remember all the heroes who paid with their lives, blood and tears for the pride of a free nation. We pay the nation’s tribute and respect to those who sacrificed their lives not for themselves, but for others and for the country.

In particular, we must honour the parents who gifted such heroic sons and daughters to this motherland. You may each be participating in this commemoration in different ways. Among the thousands of names inscribed on this memorial, some of you may be searching for your father. Others may be searching for a husband, a loved one, a relative, a brother, a closest friend or companion. They sacrificed their lives not only for the security of your country and mine, but also for greater ideals.

I wish to say that those brothers and sisters, who sacrificed parts of their bodies, just as others sacrificed their lives, will forever remain heroic figures in our hearts. Today, as a nation, we continue to experience the results of your immense sacrifice and dedication.

Had it not been for your sacrifice and dedication, we might still be living in a significantly more fearful State. We firmly believe that you will go down in history as the group that played the greatest role in liberating this motherland. Yet within that sacrifice were many other aspirations, the aspiration for a peaceful country. You, more than anyone else, reject a country defined by war and conflict. You understand better than anyone how destructive and horrifying war can be. Therefore, I believe that the greatest call and aspiration for peace within this motherland lies within you.

At the same time, there was also the aspiration for a developed nation. Alongside the struggle to liberate the motherland, you also carried the hope of transforming this country into a developed State. You aspired for a country founded on fairness and the rule of law, a country capable of succeeding in the world. Those were the aspirations carried by those who sacrificed their lives. Before this War Heroes Memorial, I solemnly pledge that we will take responsibility for building the future they envisioned. I pledge that we will never betray their aspirations.

Whenever we celebrate victory, there is something we must remember. There are still children waiting at their doorsteps for fathers who will never return. They will never again receive a father’s affection. Likewise, the pain of wives who lost their husbands will echo throughout their entire lives. Their husbands will never return. We know this.

There are also mothers and fathers who look upon their remaining children while carrying the memory of the child they lost. We know those parents will never receive their child back. All of them search for their loved ones upon this War Heroes Memorial. Deep within their hearts remain their husbands, child or brother. Yet here they search for a name engraved upon this memorial and place a hand upon their chest with a sigh.

Can we ever truly respond to this grief? Is merely commemorating the fallen heroes enough? Is paying tribute to their sacrifices sufficient? The responsibility placed upon those of us who remain alive is to build the State they dreamed of.

In every danger and every threat, they came forward to protect the nation. Whether facing enemy threats or natural disasters, they fulfilled a unique mission of sacrifice. Just as they protected the country during war, they also risked their lives to save others during disasters. Therefore, we assure you that they will forever remain unforgettable in our hearts.

As I stated last year, we stand at a crossroads. We must seek knowledge instead of ignorance. We must build unity instead of division. We must move towards progress rather than stagnation. As I said then, there are two paths before us. One is the destructive and tribalistic path that spreads hatred and anger among people. The other is the path that leads this country towards unity, development and prosperity while safeguarding the lives of the people. I believe that even in the most difficult moments, we will choose the second path. Before you today, I pledge to walk that path fearlessly and with determination.

For the first time in history, a republic accountable to the people has emerged through this transformation. It is truly a people’s republic in the fullest sense of the word, firmly for future generations. Today, we are travelling towards the creation of a humanitarian Sri Lankan nation. This journey has been built upon flames of resilience and determination. It has been marked by extraordinary hardship and suffering. Yet we must remember that the ultimate goal of this difficult journey is to transform this country into a bright and exemplary nation. That, too, was the aspiration of these war heroes, and we bear the responsibility of fulfilling it.

Today, what we carry forward is the indivisible spirit of humanity that exists among us. We are improving Sri Lanka’s image on the international stage. We are transforming our country into one that values the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. Carrying upon our shoulders the aspirations of all those who sacrificed their lives to save this country, we are engaged in a determined journey to build a model nation.

War can shatter the world into pieces. Peace alone can unite it. A humane society cannot be built upon piles of corpses. Temples of peace cannot rise amidst rivers of blood. A comforting country or world for future generations cannot be built upon exploding bombs and bullets. War is a tragedy. Therefore, we have consigned the story of war to history and embraced the enduring worship of peace in the present.

The Tri-Forces and the security forces of our country fulfilled their duty. They fought against separatism. This motherland belongs equally to Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims, Malays and Burghers, all of whom have the right to live anywhere within it. You fought against attempts to divide this motherland. They did not wage war against an ethnicity. The horrific consequences of war were experienced by all communities. Young people of one country were lost because of this war.

Opportunistic, power-hungry politicians and extremist agendas divided the people of one country into two.

Political indecency turned humanity into a football. Even today, some continue debating whether war is good or bad. My Government and I are not here to debate whether war was good or bad. We are here to ensure that another war never arises again. I believe this is the aspiration of the war heroes and all patriotic citizens of this country.

Likewise, every citizen, Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher or Malay, must be guaranteed the freedom to live with equal privileges. The belief that human rights, responsibilities and privileges belong equally to all must become embedded within society. Our society had become accustomed either to bowing before powerful authorities or living in fear. Certain groups are unaccustomed to living in a free and democratic State. They prefer conflict, insults and slander. But we remain committed to a democratic and free nation.

We must create a country where everyone with talent, ability and merit can progress. Those who previously thrived on privilege may find this painful. Those who believed themselves special while oppressing others may feel disturbed when they are no longer treated as special. They may become agitated when the law is applied equally regardless of status, as never before in history. Yet we remain unconditionally committed to universal fairness and to sustainably fulfilling the aspirations of the people. That, too, was the aspiration of the fallen war heroes.

This month in which we hold this commemoration is also religiously significant. It is during this month that we commemorate the thrice-sacred events of the Buddha, who delivered to the world the message of compassion, loving-kindness and peace. Buddhism is founded upon non-violence, compassion and boundless loving-kindness towards all beings.

For centuries, our country has functioned upon these noble principles. Yet we know there remains a small minority who spread hatred and anger for their own power and interests.

Sri Lanka possesses a rich multicultural identity. For thousands of years, this country has been a remarkable home for diverse ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic communities. In this post-war era, Sri Lanka is striving to move beyond its painful experiences. War is an extremely painful experience. We are working to ensure that this suffering is not inherited by future generations. We are building bridges for sustainable peace and coexistence. Acceptance of diversity and non-discrimination contribute greatly towards sustainable peace and coexistence.

At the world-renowned Sri Pada, devotees of all religions worship together. Within the Buddhist monasteries of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Polonnaruwa are Hindu shrines. The Kataragama Devalaya is sacred to Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic devotees alike. Pilgrims from Jaffna in the North travel to Kataragama in the South by foot.  Devotees visiting the Kirivehera also visit the Devalaya. In times of natural disaster, humanity rises above ethnic divisions. In moments of hardship, people help one another without discrimination.

What an extraordinary country can be built upon such an inspiring human society? The time has come to confine the destruction we experienced to history. For decades we have been trapped in an economic war, and we must win that war. For decades we have been trapped in a war against unemployment and we must win that war. The younger generation longs for a free and liberated country and we must achieve that.

We are engaged in a struggle to secure an exceptional country for the younger generation of this nation. How can a country win its future when children are deprived of parental love and protection? We must win that struggle. We must win the struggle to create a country where every citizen is treated equally and fairly and where this land is regarded as the motherland of all.

We pay tribute to all those who wiped away the tears of twenty million people by bringing an end to decades of war in this country. In that achievement, the role played by the war heroes was exceptional. Once again, we offer you our deepest respect for that noble service.

I invite you to move forward towards a country filled with peace, where the language of war is heard no more. We must also put an end to the clamour of racism, religious extremism and small disruptive groups. This country must never again become prey to any racist or extremist group. I invite all of you to stand together for that purpose.”

Deputy Minister of Defence, Retired Major General Aruna Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Sunil Watagala, Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Ravi Seneviratne, Commanders of the Tri-Forces, former Commanders, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Civil Security Department, the Director of the National Cadet Corps, senior military officers and family members of fallen and disabled war heroes were among those present at the commemoration.

President’s Media Division (PMD)