Emergency grant aid in response to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in three West African countries (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone)

TOKYO, Japan, November 10, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- 1. On November 7, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid totaling 18 million US dollars to support the Ebola virus disease outbreak response in three West African countries.

2. The Ebola virus disease still continues to spread rapidly in West Africa. There have been 13,540 cases and 4,941 deaths in the three affected countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone (As of October 31 WHO). The Ebola virus disease broke out in those countries where health infrastructures were weak by nature, and it shows no signs of abating yet, which explains the urgent need of the prompt assistance by international organizations and donors.

3. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged at the United Nations General Assembly that Japan would extend assistance totaling 40 million US dollars as an additional response to this epidemic. Along with the aid of 22 million US dollars through international organizations, which was decided on October 3, this aid of 18 million US dollars constitutes part of the pledge. This assistance will be utilized to: disburse 5.94 million US dollars (for enhancing logstics capacities and rehabilitating health infrastructures) to the Ebola Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) to support the smooth execution of the activities of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), the coordinator of the overall response of international organizations and donors in the three affected countries; and extend bilateral assistance to improve the Ebola response capabilities of these countries by providing pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and other supplies for treatment centers (4.02 million US dollars per country).

Reference:

Japan's assistance in response to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa (Total: Approx. 27.897 million US dollars (up to now))

(1) Emergency grant aid: Approx. 24.02 million US dollars

(2) Emergency relief goods: Relief goods worth approx. 920,000 US dollars and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

(3) Disbursements to international organizations: Approx. 2.157 million US dollars

(4) Dispatch of experts: A total of six Japanese experts via the World Health Organization

(5) Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects: Approx. 800,000 US dollars