Ban Ki-Moon: "The Scope Of The Ebola Disease Has Gone Beyond Health Issues"

Amid the alarming spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa, UN secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the scope of the disease has gone "beyond health issues" and that, if not "properly treated," it may "affect the political stability" of the countries affected.

Speaking to the press at the UN Headquarters, he noted today (16 Sep) that the spread of Ebola is affecting the social and economic situation of the countries struck by the disease and called on the international community for "political will" and "commitment."

Ban highlighted the urgency of the situation and noted the need for "quick action."

He said this is not an issue that requires normal time for consultations and building consensus. He stressed that this is a matter of "quick action and a matter of instruction. So, whenever we decide, this must be implemented."

The UN Chief called on international airlines and shipping companies to lift travel and transport bans with the affected countries to ensure the delivery of proper humanitarian and medical assistance.

He noted that "the patient can be separated, isolated for professional cure, but the countries should not be isolated."

He stressed the challenges facing the affected countries and said that travel and transport bans "hamper and prevents the United Nations and international health workers to visit and to provide humanitarian and medical assistance. So I'm just appealing that they should resume their services."

Asked for US President Barack Obama's announcement to conduct airstrikes in Syria and Iraq to tackle the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), he welcomed "his decisive and firm commitment as a leader of the United States and the world to fight terrorism, which is a common enemy for humanity."

Ban also welcomed what he called a "decisive and coordinated action" of several countries to fight "terrorism and extremism."

However, the UN Chief called on the world leaders involved in military operations the Middle East to conduct them with "strict scrutiny of international humanitarian and human rights law," "minimizing the impact on civilian populations."

SHOTLIST:
16 SEPTEMBER 2014, NEW YORK CITY

Exterior of the United Nations Headquarters
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon walks to the podium, press briefing room
Journalists at the press briefing room
Journalist at the press briefing room
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric at the podium
Journalist at the press briefing room
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric walk out

SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
"This has gone beyond health issues. It has gone to the areas of affecting social and economic situations, even it may affect the political stability if this is not properly contained and properly treated."

SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
"This is not an issue which we require normal time consuming, consultation and forging consensus. This is a matter of quick action and a matter of instruction. So, whenever we decide, this must be implemented."

SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
"And I'm asking the international airlines and shipping companies not to suspend their services. The patient can be separated, isolated for professional cure, but the countries should not be isolated. (This) is kind of some sanction where and when this country needs more support. It really hampers and prevents the United Nations and international health workers to visit and to provide humanitarian and medical; assistance. So I'm just appealing that they should resume their services."

SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
"I welcome his decisive and firm commitment as a leader of the United States and the world to fight against terrorism, which is a common enemy for humanity."

SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
"As the Secretary-General, I'm asking the world leaders that whenever there are military operations, all these operations must be conducted in strict scrutiny of international humanitarian and human rights law, protecting civilian population and minimizing the impact on civilian populations."

DURATION: 02:53