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"Ebola Crisis Becomes Complex, With Political And Social Implications"

10.09.2014 16:52

The Secretary-General's Special Representative for Liberia, Karin Landgren, briefed the Security Council on Tuesday (9 Sept) warning that the Ebola crisis has become complex, with political, security, economic and social implications that will continue to affect the country well beyond the current medical emergency. Landgren added that Liberians are now facing the gravest threat since the war – one that would challenge any Government or society.Speaking to reporters in New York, she said "the Ebola numbers that we have officially today are over 2,000 suspected probable confirmed cases and over 1,200 deaths due to Ebola in Liberia. But -as the Wold Health Organization has warned us, these are not the true numbers. They don't capture the true toll on Ebola. And in the next few days we should expect to be working with significantly higher numbers."Landgren stressed "what we mustn't forget is that there are other crisis lurking in the shadow of Ebola. The regular health system has collapse

The Secretary-General's Special Representative for Liberia, Karin Landgren, briefed the Security Council on Tuesday (9 Sept) warning that the Ebola crisis has become complex, with political, security, economic and social implications that will continue to affect the country well beyond the current medical emergency.

Landgren added that Liberians are now facing the gravest threat since the war – one that would challenge any Government or society.

Speaking to reporters in New York, she said "the Ebola numbers that we have officially today are over 2,000 suspected probable confirmed cases and over 1,200 deaths due to Ebola in Liberia. But -as the Wold Health Organization has warned us, these are not the true numbers. They don't capture the true toll on Ebola. And in the next few days we should expect to be working with significantly higher numbers."

Landgren stressed "what we mustn't forget is that there are other crisis lurking in the shadow of Ebola. The regular health system has collapsed, bringing the potential for other health problems in its wake."

She explained that the economy has suffered significantly, adding that there are food shortages being reported and increased food prices in the country.

The UN special representative for Liberia added "several political processes have been put off due to Ebola. So, there are broader implications and reverberations on Ebola to which we have to be extremely attentive."

In terms of the control of the disease Landgren said "it can be rolled back, as doctor Navarro has also said -, but how fast and how thoroughly makes a big difference and we need the international surge of support that has been called for."

Asked about a possible threat of the spread of the disease in New York due to the arrival of West African delegations to the upcoming UN General Assembly, the US ambassador Samantha Power told reporters "we have state, local and federal cooperation on this, coordination with the United Nations, the Center for Disease Control has been in touch, again, with the Homeland Security and the other parts of the US government that are responsible for monitoring the flow in and out of the United States, as well as in touch, of course, with us here at the Mission and the staff working at the UN itself around procedures and protocols. I think we feel very confident that we have the necessary safeguards in place."

Earlier today, Liberian Minister of Defence Brownie Samukai told the Security Council that his country 'is facing a serious threat to national existence."

He added "the deadly ebola virus has caused a disruption of the normal functioning of our State. The disease which early this year was identified in remote village of our country has now reached urban centers including the capital, Monrovia. It is now spread in a wild fire, devouring everything in its path."

Samukai also said "today, only two international airlines, SN Brussels and Air Maroc, are now flying to and from Liberia. The suspension of flights has accentuated the difficulties we are facing and exacerbated the constraint of humanitarian delivery."

The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke yesterday with the United States President Barack Obama and discussed the need to urgently scale up international efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Ban, who has been making a series of calls to key countries and organizations to urge more support for countries affected by the disease, informed President Obama that he is planning to convene a high-level event during the General Assembly to highlight the needs and required response from Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector and academic institutions.

In addition, the UN chief appointed Assistant Secretary-General for Field Support Anthony Banbury as UN Deputy Ebola Coordinator and Operation Crisis Manager, working out of the United Nations Operations Crisis Centre.

Banbury will coordinate the operational work of the UN System, Member States, NGOs and other stakeholders under a single platform.

SHOTLIST:
09 SEPTEMBER 2014, NEW YORK CITY

Exterior, United Nations Headquarters
SRSG and Coordinator of UN Operations in Liberia walks in to the microphone
Notebook
Cellphone
Notebook
SRSG and Coordinator of UN Operations in Liberia walks away
US ambassador walks to the stakeout position
Security Council room
Ambassadors
Zoom out, Security Council room

SOUNDBITE (English), Karin Landgren, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Coordinator of United Nations Operations in Liberia:
"I can't say enough about just how grave this is, just how deep the needs are and just how grave the challenges are going to be. The Ebola numbers that we have officially today are over 2,000 suspected probable confirmed cases and over 1,200 deaths due to Ebola in Liberia. But as the Wold Health Organization has warned us, these are not the true numbers. They don't capture the true toll on Ebola. And in the next few days we should expect to be working with significantly higher numbers."

SOUNDBITE (English), Karin Landgren, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Coordinator of United Nations Operations in Liberia:
"What we mustn't forget is that there are other crisis lurking in the shadow of Ebola. The regular health system has collapsed, bringing the potential for other health problems in its wake. The economy has suffered significantly. There are food shortages being reported and increased food prices in the country. Several political processes have been put off due to Ebola. So, there are broader implications and reverberations on Ebola to which we have to be extremely attentive."

SOUNDBITE (English), Karin Landgren, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Coordinator of United Nations Operations in Liberia:
"It can be rolled back, as doctor Navarro has also said. But how fast and how thoroughly makes a big difference and we need the international surge of support that has been called for."

SOUNDBITE (English), Karin Landgren, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Coordinator of United Nations Operations in Liberia:
"As the economy contracts, the situation will become more difficult for people. So there are many broader reasons why this really needs to be broad under control quickly because the potential for incivility is definitely there."

SOUNDBITE (English) Samantha Power, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
"We have state, local and federal cooperation on this, coordination with the United Nations, the Center for Disease Control has been in touch, again, with the Homeland Security and the other parts of the US government that are responsible for monitoring the flow in and out of the United States, as well as in touch, of course, with us here at the Mission and the staff working at the UN itself around procedures and protocols. I think we feel very confident that we have the necessary safeguards in place."

SOUNDBITE (English), Brownie J. Samukai, Minister of National Defence of Liberia:
"We are meting at a time when Liberia is facing a serious threat to national existence. The deadly ebola virus has caused a disruption of the normal functioning of our State. The disease which early this year was identified in remote village of our country has now reached urban centers including the capital, Monrovia. It is now spread in a wild fire, devouring everything in its path."

SOUNDBITE (English), Brownie J. Samukai, Minister of National Defense of Liberia:
"Today, only two international airlines, SN Brussels and Air Maroc, are now flying to and from Liberia. The suspension of flights has accentuated the difficulties we are facing and exacerbated the constraint of humanitarian delivery."

DURATION: 04:00



 
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