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Obama admits 'we're not moving fast enough' to stop Ebola spread Obama admits 'we're not moving fast enough' to stop Ebola spread
(about 3 hours later)
Barack Obama warned the world on Thursday not to “stand back” and expect the United States to combat the spread of the Ebola virus alone, saying a slow international response could cost hundreds of thousands of lives.Barack Obama warned the world on Thursday not to “stand back” and expect the United States to combat the spread of the Ebola virus alone, saying a slow international response could cost hundreds of thousands of lives.
Speaking at a special high-level meeting on Ebola at the United Nations, Obama said there had been progress in efforts to slow the disease at its epicentre in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. But he added: “We need to be honest with ourselves. We’re not moving fast enough. There’s still a significant gap between where we are and where we need to be.”Speaking at a special high-level meeting on Ebola at the United Nations, Obama said there had been progress in efforts to slow the disease at its epicentre in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. But he added: “We need to be honest with ourselves. We’re not moving fast enough. There’s still a significant gap between where we are and where we need to be.”
The international response had to be “like a marathon, but run at the pace of a sprint.” The international response had to be “like a marathon, but run at the pace of a sprint”.
“That’s only possible if every nation and every organization does its part,” the president said. “And everyone has to do more. Right now everybody has the best intentions, but people are not putting in the resources that are necessary.”“That’s only possible if every nation and every organization does its part,” the president said. “And everyone has to do more. Right now everybody has the best intentions, but people are not putting in the resources that are necessary.”
Obama departed from his prepared text to express frustration at the reluctance of other countries in offering concrete assistance, suggesting that they were taking US intervention for granted.Obama departed from his prepared text to express frustration at the reluctance of other countries in offering concrete assistance, suggesting that they were taking US intervention for granted.
“If we move fast it, could be the difference between 10,000, 20,000 or 30,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands or a million. This is should not about wrangling and waiting to see who will give what first,” Obama said. “Do not stand by thinking somehow, because of what we’ve done, it’s taken care of. It’s not.”“If we move fast it, could be the difference between 10,000, 20,000 or 30,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands or a million. This is should not about wrangling and waiting to see who will give what first,” Obama said. “Do not stand by thinking somehow, because of what we’ve done, it’s taken care of. It’s not.”
The UK has sent 40 humanitarian workers and soldiers to Sierra Leone to help build an emergency medical response centre. Britain’s international development secretary, Justine Greening, said that her country’s contribution would triple the number of beds available for victims of the disease, but she said Sierra Leone still needed urgent help from other countries.The UK has sent 40 humanitarian workers and soldiers to Sierra Leone to help build an emergency medical response centre. Britain’s international development secretary, Justine Greening, said that her country’s contribution would triple the number of beds available for victims of the disease, but she said Sierra Leone still needed urgent help from other countries.
In his UN speech, Obama listed the emergency measures taken by his country. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is mounting the largest international response in its history. The advance command post has been established in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, for a contingent of 3,000 US troops to help with medical logistics. The US air force is also setting up an “air bridge” from Senegal to the three most affected countries, to keep up a constant flow of medical worker, equipment and supplies into the region.In his UN speech, Obama listed the emergency measures taken by his country. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is mounting the largest international response in its history. The advance command post has been established in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, for a contingent of 3,000 US troops to help with medical logistics. The US air force is also setting up an “air bridge” from Senegal to the three most affected countries, to keep up a constant flow of medical worker, equipment and supplies into the region.
Obama said the US Department of Health and Human Services is setting up a hospital and field treatment centres across the three most affected countries.Obama said the US Department of Health and Human Services is setting up a hospital and field treatment centres across the three most affected countries.
At the same meeting, the leaders of the three countries at the centre of the epidemic appealed for more help and criticised international airlines for stopping flights to their capitals.At the same meeting, the leaders of the three countries at the centre of the epidemic appealed for more help and criticised international airlines for stopping flights to their capitals.
The Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said her country was being “ostracised” at a time when it was facing its greatest challenge. Speaking from Monrovia by video link, she said Liberia’s deep tradition of extended families was making it harder to combat the spread of the disease.The Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said her country was being “ostracised” at a time when it was facing its greatest challenge. Speaking from Monrovia by video link, she said Liberia’s deep tradition of extended families was making it harder to combat the spread of the disease.
Families refused to leave the bedside of dying mothers or children, Johnson Sirleaf said, exposing themselves to infection, and could not accept that their sick children should be taken away by strangers, never to be seen again. But she said “We are fighting back,” adding that outreach by public education workers had been identified and foreign assistance had begun to arrive.Families refused to leave the bedside of dying mothers or children, Johnson Sirleaf said, exposing themselves to infection, and could not accept that their sick children should be taken away by strangers, never to be seen again. But she said “We are fighting back,” adding that outreach by public education workers had been identified and foreign assistance had begun to arrive.
“Several months down the line, the international community is finally coming around to the better view that the Ebola outbreak is a challenge for everyone,” the Sierra Leonean president, Ernest Bai Koroma, said by videolink from his office in Freetown.“Several months down the line, the international community is finally coming around to the better view that the Ebola outbreak is a challenge for everyone,” the Sierra Leonean president, Ernest Bai Koroma, said by videolink from his office in Freetown.
“Sierra Leone and its sister republics may be at the frontlines of this fight but we require the heavy aerial and ground support of the world to defeat a disease worse than terrorism.”“Sierra Leone and its sister republics may be at the frontlines of this fight but we require the heavy aerial and ground support of the world to defeat a disease worse than terrorism.”
Justin Forsyth, the head of the Save the Children charity, said at the UN meeting: “There is only a few weeks to act if we are to prevent this crisis spiralling out of control. We need a unified plan and much tighter coordination between all actors to recruit and support frontline health workers.”Justin Forsyth, the head of the Save the Children charity, said at the UN meeting: “There is only a few weeks to act if we are to prevent this crisis spiralling out of control. We need a unified plan and much tighter coordination between all actors to recruit and support frontline health workers.”
The Sierra Leonean government has quarantined more than a million people in an attempt to bring an end to the spread of the virus. Areas in the east of the country on the border of Guinea have been under quarantine for months but travel is now restricted in three more areas where an estimated 1.5 million people live. Nearly a third of the country’s population across 14 districts is now under curfew.The Sierra Leonean government has quarantined more than a million people in an attempt to bring an end to the spread of the virus. Areas in the east of the country on the border of Guinea have been under quarantine for months but travel is now restricted in three more areas where an estimated 1.5 million people live. Nearly a third of the country’s population across 14 districts is now under curfew.
In an address to the nation, Koroma said the weekend’s lockdown had “met its objectives” but had also exposed the challenges posed by the Ebola crisis.In an address to the nation, Koroma said the weekend’s lockdown had “met its objectives” but had also exposed the challenges posed by the Ebola crisis.
In addition to announcing the new isolation districts, the government is establishing corridors for travel between non-quarantined districts, with a curfew on all travel outside the hours of 9am and 5pm. Koroma said the isolation would “definitely pose great difficulties for our people in these districts.” In addition to announcing the new isolation districts, the government is establishing corridors for travel between non-quarantined districts, with a curfew on all travel outside the hours of 9am and 5pm. Koroma said the isolation would “definitely pose great difficulties for our people in these districts”.