The European Union steps up efforts toward getting 1 billion euros ($1.27 billion) in aid to fight Ebola in West Africa and rejected the idea of halting direct flights coming from the region.
British Prime Minister David Cameron wants a two-day summit of the 28 EU leaders ending Friday to reach the $1.27 billion aid threshold, agreeing on a variety of topics from more financial aid to common repatriation procedures, more Ebola treatment facilities and better training for health care workers.
So far, the overall anti-Ebola total for the EU, including EU national contributions, stands at 500 million euros ($640 million), with Britain contributing 160 million euros ($204 million). The Netherlands also promised to send a frigate to West Africa to help, matching a similar contribution from Britain.
"Money is very important, equipment is very important, staff is very important," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
Still, EU ministers rejected the idea of scrapping flights from West Africa to keep the virus out of Europe.
On the other hand, China has donated $6 million to help stave off food shortages in the three African countries worst affected by the Ebola virus. The World Food Program announced Monday that the money is being spent on one month of emergency food rations of mainly rice, lentils and yellow peas for 300,000 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Source: AP
Source: AP
