EU Ebola aid for West African countries

EU: Ebola aid for millions of West African countries

08/12/2014

In the three countries most affected by the Ebola outbreak - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - more than 17,500 Ebola infections have been recorded to date, and nearly 6,200 people died. The EU has now pledged millions of aid to the three West African countries.

62 million euros for the most affected countries
The European Union (EU) has provided further support to the three countries most affected by the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone). According to a news agency dpa, the three states will receive € 62 million to fight the life-threatening infectious disease. This was announced during a visit by EU Development Commissioner Neven Mimica on Saturday in Guinea.

Assistance for development projects promised
It is also said that the EU has pledged a further 244 million euros for development projects in the country by 2020. So far, the EU and its member states have pledged more than a billion euros to fight Ebola. Only a few months ago, Western industrialized countries were experts, such as the aid organization „Doctors Without Borders“, been criticized for their lack of commitment in the fight against the deadly plague. Among other things, it was said that nothing happens except speeches and promises of financial help.

Many people are still dying of Ebola
Despite all relief efforts, many people still die of Ebola in West Africa. Because there is no cure or safe vaccine against the disease, patients are usually treated only with typical Ebola symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and internal and external bleeding. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 6,200 people have died in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone alone. More than 17,500 Ebola infections were recorded in these countries. However, the WHO assumes a high number of unreported cases. The statistics also include infectious and fatal cases where there is an urgent suspicion of Ebola, but there is no clear evidence. (Ad)