UN Ebola Fund Receives Donations from Britain and Sweden

Britain and Sweden have offered sizable contributions to the UN Ebola fund, taking the total contributions to $118 million.

Britain pledged $32 million and Sweden $15 million to the fund set up by Ban to fight the Ebola outbreak, that has now killed nearly 4,900 people in West Africa, UN officials said Friday.

A $1-billion-dollar appeal for financing by UN agencies has raised $491 million, nearly half the amount needed to fight the world's worst outbreak of the deadly virus.

The United Nations is leading the international response to the Ebola crisis and has set a target of ensuring at least 70 percent of infected people are getting treatment by December 1.

Ban last week caused a stir when he complained of having only $100,000 in cash on hand for the fund and urged nations to dig deep in their pockets.

Since then Australia deposited $8.7 million and more countries have committed funds including Venezuela ($5 million), Canada ($3.6 million) and New Zealand ($1.2 million).

China has offered $6 million, Finland $9.1 million, Germany $6.3 million and Denmark $5 million to the trust fund that gives the UN quick access to financing to fight the epidemic.

UN officials say they are hoping to have $100 million in funding secured by the end of the month through formally signed agreements with donors.

So far it has signed commitments for funding totalling $18.7 million, although the pledges stand at $118 million.

Source: AFP