Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Humanitarian Aid

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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150. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps that have been taken to assist those suffering from the Ebola virus in West Africa. [29691/14]

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The Ebola virus outbreak, which started in Guinea in early 2014, has now spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. Ebola patients have been identified in more than 60 separate locations across the three countries. Latest reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) state that there have been 427 deaths across West Africa.

The international response to the outbreak is being coordinated by the WHO, which has deployed 150 experts to the three countries. These experts have been supporting the Ministries of Health to contain the outbreak and assist those suffering from the virus. An emergency regional meeting took place in Accra last week, involving West African Ministers of Health, Ebola and public health specialists and representatives from UN agencies, the European Union, bilateral donors and NGOs. The meeting focused on cooperation strategies to tackle the regional outbreak.

There is great concern about the regional spread of the outbreak to Sierra Leone and Liberia, which are partner countries for Ireland's aid programme. There are now 221 confirmed cases of the virus in Sierra Leone, of which 67 have resulted in death. Since the outbreak was confirmed in late May, the Government of Sierra Leone and its development partners have taken clear practical measures in response, in line with best practice. Efforts are also underway to improve public understanding of the symptoms and effects of the virus and to build public cooperation with the Ebola response.

In Liberia, the Ebola outbreak was considered to have ended by early June, but there was a second outbreak on 10 June. There are now 48 confirmed cases in Liberia, of which 33 have resulted in death. The Government of Liberia, supported by development partners, has reactivated the Ebola response plan put in place during the initial outbreak. Ireland provides substantial support to Liberia's Ministry of Health under our aid programme, and the Irish Aid office in Monrovia is actively monitoring the situation and regularly liaising with Government and other development partners.

Ireland has also provided €60,000 to the NGO Concern Worldwide for their programme which aims to prevent the spread of Ebola through community sensitisation and health and hygiene awareness in Sierra Leone and Liberia. In addition, the START fund, an innovative fund mechanism for NGOs, which is supported by Irish Aid, has provided €350,000 to Concern, Christian Aid, Save the Children and ActionAid for their response to the Ebola outbreak.

Our Embassy in Freetown is continuing to monitor and report on the situation and is engaged in urgent coordination efforts with Governments and other UN, EU and NGO partners.

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