Washington, D.C. – September 17, 2014: An agreement for a US $105 million grant by the World Bank Group (WBG) to finance Ebola containment efforts underway in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone was signed today at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C. by officials representing the three countries.During the signing ceremony, Mr. Makhtar Diop, the World Bank’s Regional Vice President for Africa, underscored the commitment of the WBG to the international efforts to contain the Ebola epidemic that is spreading in West Africa.Mr. Diop assured that the WBG would do all it can to assist the three countries worst affected by the Ebola outbreak to successfully combat the disease and as they go through the process of recovery.On September 16, 2014, the WBG Board of Executives approved the US $105 million to finance Ebola containment containment efforts underway in the three worst affected countries, help families and communities to cope with the economic impact of the crisis, and rebuild and strengthen essential public health systems in the countries concerned to guide against future disease outbreaks. The grant is part of the US $200 million Ebola emergency mobilization first announced by the WBG in early August. Under the WBG’s new Ebola Emergency Response project, US $52 million is earmarked for Liberia, the country with the highest number of Ebola infection, while US $28 million is for Sierra Leone, and US $25 million for Guinea.During the ceremony, the Ambassador of Liberia to the United States, H.E. Jeremiah Sulunteh, the Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the United States, H.E. Buckari Stevens, and a representative from the Guinea Embassy in Washington, signed on behalf of their respective countries.The signing ceremony was witnessed by senior officials of government in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea through video conferencing.Speaking from Monrovia, Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Amara Konneh, thanked the World Bank for assisting the three countries with the grant to fight Ebola. He added that the Ebola epidemic has been a great setback to the development agenda not just for Liberia but for the three countries worst affected by the outbreak.Minister Konneh noted that the grant will be used for three key areas to support the health care system, invest in the health care workers, and provide food and basic services in the affected areas.Also speaking after Minister Konneh, Ambassador Sulunteh pointed out that there is no ceasefire in the fight against Ebola, unlike the situation in time of war when parties can agree on a ceasefire. He added that there was no alternative but to vigorously combat and contain the Ebola disease.Ambassador Sulunteh praised the WBG for the grant to Liberia and the other countries affected by the Ebola disease.
Among those who made remarks at the ceremony was Ambassador Stevens of Sierra Leone, who also lauded the WBG for the support to contain the disease in Sierra Leone and other countries affected by the Ebola outbreak. Some Photos from the event Follows:
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