UN Promises Action over Raging Ebola Virus
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Liberia welcomed global pledges of action on the Ebola epidemic ravaging West Africa, admitting on Friday that the government was losing the trust of its people with the outbreak still out of control.
World leaders gathered at the United Nations on Thursday made fresh pledges of assistance in battling the growing crisis, while the Group of Seven nations vowed to keep open vital air and sea links with Ebola-hit countries.
"We are happy to hear that the entire world now understands the urgency of the reaction to threat of Ebola," Liberian Information Minister Lewis Brown told AFP.
"We hope that the commitment will be quickly followed by action because if this drags for long, the populations of the various countries will begin to lose patience and they will blame our governments."
Health systems in the worst-hit countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea have been overwhelmed by the epidemic, which has killed 3,000 people, and are in dire need of doctors, nurses, medical equipment and supplies.
US President Barack Obama led calls for a ramped up response, urging governments, businesses and international organizations to join the fight.
UN officials could not provide an immediate tally of the total pledges made at the UN meeting but the UN's coordinator for Ebola, David Nabarro, said countries had "responded with generosity."
Canada announced a contribution of $27 million dollars to the effort and France said it has set aside 70 million euros in a battle that the United Nations estimates will require close to one billion dollars.
The European Union said it would add 30 million euros to the current 150 million euros it has provided to fight Ebola.
