United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today focused world attention on the \u201cfinal stretch\u201d of the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, an epidemic that has killed more than 11,000 people, saying: \u201clet us collectively take a deep breath and resolve to finish the job\u201d and put the most affected countries on the path of recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour continued generosity will help the affected countries carry out their plans for recovery over the next two years,\u201d said Mr. Ban in his opening remarks at the International Conference on Ebola Recovery being held at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Headquarters in New York.<\/p>\n
Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, speaking on behalf of Guinea, Sierra Leone and her own country, those hardest hit by last year’s unprecedented outbreak, said that the funding gap for the three countries’ national recover plans and the regional Mano River Union plan is estimated at $7.2 billion, which includes $4 billion for the region as a whole.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no doubt that the resources required are significant,\u201d Ms. Johnson-Sirleaf said. \u201cWe believe however that this can be achieved through existing bilateral and multilateral commitments supplemented by the allocation of additional resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs this asking too much?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe say no because, a strong Mano River Union can be a formidable force for recovery and resilience in the sub-region; a productive, progressive and peaceful Mano River Union which would result from your support will attract private sector investment and capital in our natural resource with ensuring sustainability in our effort and positive impact on regional stability and world trade,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Warning that Ebola is a \u201cstubborn enemy,\u201d the President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma said \u201csometimes, humanity shows a very short attention-span and wants to move on\u201d and he emphasized: \u201cNo, no, no, this fight isn’t over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guinean President Alpho Conde spotlighted the breadth of socio-economic damage caused by the outbreak noting that health systems collapsed, investors and consultants have left the three countries, farms and markets had ceased to function, the trade and travel to and from the region had been compromised, tax revenues declined, and household incomes had been hard hit.<\/p>\n
While cases in Guinea and Sierra Leone have been reduced considerably, Mr. Ban and other speakers said new cases in Liberia show the need for continued vigilance given the regional risks.<\/p>\n
Liberia was mid-way through a 90-day period of heightened surveillance and vigilance, following the completion of 42 days since the burial of the last person infected with Ebola virus disease when the disease resurfaced last month.<\/p>\n
In a statement delivered on behalf of the President of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly, Mar\u00eda Cristina Perceval, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, said that despite the important progress that has been made, the final push to reach a resilient \u201czero case\u201d scenario will require the sustained engagement of all partners, and even scaled up efforts in some areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo successfully end the crisis, recovery efforts must shift from the immediate emergency response, to a long-term approach to \u2018build back better\u2019 and ensure greater resilience to potential future shocks.\u201d She said, adding that as a community of nations, the world must approach these efforts with the same sense of urgency and commitment that was displayed at the outset of the Ebola epidemic.<\/p>\n
While she welcomed the national priorities laid out in the recovery plans presented by the three countries and urge all partners to pledge and commit their full support to those efforts, she also underscored that special emphasis must be given to strengthening and building more effective and robust healthcare services throughout the region, while consideration must be given to creating more resilient institutions and decentralized services.<\/p>\n
The all-day conference is chaired by Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Development Program Administrator Helen Clark and was convened by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General in partnership with the African Union, European Union, the World Bank and the African Development Bank.<\/p>\n
Miss Clark said that while \u2018getting to zero, and staying at zero\u2019 must continue to be central to the sustained Ebola response, national governments rightly want to intensify recovery and development efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cDecisive action now, under national leadership with generous international support, will address the devastating social and economic impacts of Ebola, and support the three countries in getting firmly back on their development track, she said, underscoring: \u201cUnless the international community steps up its support now, the impact of Ebola could be felt for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must not let up until we end this deadly epidemic,\u201d declared World Bank President Jim Kim, who urged ongoing efforts to help affected countries get to \u2013 and sustain zero cases.<\/p>\n
Mr. Ban said the outbreak has eroded progress on peace and development, disrupted health and social services, and affected major economic sectors such as agriculture, mining, trade, tourism, transport, fisheries and livestock. The functioning of schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure has suffered.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis negative impact \u2013 on economies, livelihoods and more importantly lives \u2013 demands that the global community continues to prioritize recovery from Ebola even long after the crisis subsides,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strategy to end the outbreak is working \u2013 but the final stretch of the response remains particularly challenging,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is why today is about more than speeches and pledges \u2013 it is a chance to forge a partnership for a better future \u2013 a future that is full of opportunity and free of Ebola.\u201d<\/p>\n