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Ebola outbreak: UN 'lacks resources' to fight deadly virus | Ebola outbreak: UN 'lacks resources' to fight deadly virus |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The head of the UN mission charged with fighting Ebola in West Africa has told the BBC he does not yet have the resources necessary to defeat it. | |
Tony Banbury said more help was urgently needed, despite significant contributions from the UK, China, Cuba and the US. | |
But he was hopeful of achieving the target of 70% bed space for new cases and 70% safe burials by December. | |
The confirmed death toll is now 4,818, says the World Health Organization. | The confirmed death toll is now 4,818, says the World Health Organization. |
All but 27 of the deaths have been in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea - the three nations worst affected by the outbreak. | |
In other developments: | |
'Mixed picture' | |
Mr Banbury was speaking at the UN headquarters for Ebola response in Ghana, which has not been affected by the epidemic, at the end of a regional tour | |
He said told the BBC it was difficult to say if spread of the disease is slowing as it was a "very mixed picture". | |
In Liberia's capital, Monrovia, there was a decline but there was "significant acceleration" elsewhere. | |
Bed space was still a huge issue , Mr Banbury said, but he hoped that by reducing the numbers of people becoming infected the UN would eventually be able to reach its targets. | |
But he said his organisation did not yet have the capacity to defeat the disease. | |
"It's not here yet. There are still people, villages, towns [and] areas that not getting any type of help right now and we definitely don't have the response capability on the ground now from the international community," he said. | |
At the same time he mentioned contributions from the UK, which opened a new Ebola centre in Sierra Leone on Wednesday. | |
Mr Banbury said the US, China and Cuba which had all sent significant numbers of soldiers or medics. | Mr Banbury said the US, China and Cuba which had all sent significant numbers of soldiers or medics. |
Earlier, US officials said President Barack Obama would ask Congress for $6.2bn (£3.9bn) to fight Ebola in West Africa and to avoid it spreading in the US. | Earlier, US officials said President Barack Obama would ask Congress for $6.2bn (£3.9bn) to fight Ebola in West Africa and to avoid it spreading in the US. |
They said he was requesting $4.5bn in immediate response funds and more than $1.5bn for a contingency fund. | They said he was requesting $4.5bn in immediate response funds and more than $1.5bn for a contingency fund. |
The request comes as the WHO released its latest report, putting the number of cases at 13,042 and the deaths at 4,818. | |
US and international treatment centres | US and international treatment centres |