Ebola-Hit Nations 'Must Not be Isolated,' Says G7

In a welcome move, the world's most developed economies pledged to keep open air and sea links with Ebola-hit countries.

"We warn that although the spread of Ebola must be contained, affected countries must not be isolated," the G7 group said, calling for medical help and equipment in fighting the disease which has left close to 3,000 people dead in West Africa.

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"We underline the necessity to enhance the ability of the countries concerned to fight the disease themselves," foreign ministers from the G7 nations said in a statement after talks in New York.

This included ensuring medical care and equipment can get through to countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea which have been overwhelmed by the spread of the deadly virus.

The G7 foreign ministers underscored that "the provision of assistance depends on unhindered access to the countries concerned."

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"G7 countries with the UN will encourage and maintain air and maritime links with the countries concerned," the ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States added.

"The G7 call on other countries to follow this practice. In order to facilitate and streamline the transportation of essential goods and equipment, G7 countries support the establishment of regional transportation hubs."

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Earlier Thursday President Barack Obama warned that not enough was being done to tackle the crisis that has left close to 3,000 dead and is spreading at an alarming pace.

"We are not moving fast enough. We are not doing enough," Obama told a meeting at the United Nations.

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"Right now, everybody has the best of intentions, but people are not putting the kinds of resources necessary to put a stop to this epidemic."

The meeting was called by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to ramp up the international response after the Security Council last week declared the outbreak a threat to world peace and security.

The G7 said it would also coordinate to ensure the care and evacuation of any foreign health workers who are infected by the disease.

Source-AFP