Intl communities pledge swift actions to Ebola crisis

WASHINGTON -- The international communities on Thursday agreed timely actions and coordination are an urgent need to fight against Ebola epidemic that has run rampant in three West African nations.

That was learned from a high-level session attended by officials from global organizations, national health agencies, as well as nongovernmental organizations, plus heads of state of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, with the mission to ramp up global response to the outbreak of the deadly disease in the three West African countries.

At the meeting, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon urged increased resource mobilization, saying "the best antidote to Ebola is an effective and urgent response."

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim also called for swift actions to contain and stop the Ebola epidemic, warning without quick response, the future of Africa is at stake.

A Chinese official said at the session called for reinforced efforts for Ebola vaccines and drugs research and development, in addition to timely response and coordination. She disclosed China had pledged additional 200 million yuan (about $32 million) to the Ebola-hit African countries and $2 million in cash each for the World Health Organization and African Union.

World Bank has predicted that the regional financial impact could reach $32.6 billion by the end of 2015 if the killer disease is not quickly contained in the three West African countries and is to significantly infect people in neighboring countries.

At the meeting, President of Guinea made an urgent plea for money, supplies, medicine, equipment and training of health care workers. The world's response hasn't kept pace with the spread of Ebola, complained President of Sierra Leone in a speech delivered via a teleconference, while President of Liberia called for the urgent need to contain Ebola in a "more timely and decisive manner. "

The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa has already infected more than 8,033 people and claimed more than 3,879 lives. The epidemic continues to spread rapidly.

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