UNSC voices concern over Ebola

UN Security Council (UNSC) has reiterated its grave concern about the unprecedented extent of the Ebola outbreak in Africa.
In a presidential statement adopted by the UNSC, late on Friday, the members stressed that Ebola epidemic constitutes a threat to international peace and security, and the impact of the virus on West Africa, in particular Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
The Council expressed appreciation for the crucial contributions and commitments made by the Member States of the region, to continue to lead the ground-level response against the Ebola outbreak in terms of addressing the wider political, security, socio-economic and humanitarian impact, including on food security, of the Ebola outbreak on communities.
Furthermore, the council called for a plan for the longer term recovery in the region, including with the support of the Peacebuilding Commission. It also underscored the continued need for robust contact tracing, social mobilization and community-level engagement efforts, especially outside of major urban areas in the most affected countries.
Nevertheless, the UNSC stressed the importance for the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) to continue to strengthen coordination with the governments of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and all national, regional and international actors, including bilateral partners and multilateral organizations.
In this regard, the Security Council requested that the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accelerate efforts to scale-up UNMEER's presence and activities at the district and prefecture level outside of the capital cities.
On recent reported Ebola infection in Mali, the Security Coucil expressed concern. This outbreak has serious humanitarian, economic and social consequences and political stability, Australia addressed the council about the issue.
This Council has rightly determined that the Ebola crisis is a threat to international peace and security, it added.
Liberian Ambassador Marjon Kamara to the UN, noted that the support to livelihoods remain important, as the people are experiencing hardships in accessing food due to high prices and limitations of local commodities.
"We have said consistently that the effects of this disease upon our society and our people are multidimensional," he affirmed.