Off the wire
• Germany's benchmark DAX index closes down  • Sweden supports Albania's EU integration efforts  • Foreign exchange rate of euro to other currencies  • Urgent: U.S. Senate passes bill to save spy agency's surveillance program for six months  • Child abuse costs countries in East Asia, Pacific more than 200 bln USD yearly: UNICEF  • South Sudan fighting triggers new displacement: UNHCR  • U.S. offers "deepest" condolences to China over fatal cruise ship accident on Yangtze  • 1st LD Writethru: U.S. stocks end mildly lower on Greek uncertainty  • 3rd LD Writethru: Four people seriously injured in British theme park rollercoaster accident  • 1st LD Writethru: U.S. dollar falls after positive euro zone data  
You are here: 　 Home

UN chief warns of setbacks in tackling Ebola

Xinhua, June 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Tuesday applauded the progress made in fighting Ebola and warned of possible setbacks in case of lapse in vigilance.

"We have made great strides towards bringing the outbreak under control. Liberia was declared Ebola-free on May 9, after 42 days with no cases," said Ban at the General Assembly Informal Plenary on Ebola held here Tuesday. "This is remarkable progress in what was once the worst affected country. It proves the power of strong national leadership, proactive national responders and communities, and international support in solidarity with the country's people. "

"I applaud Liberia on reaching this milestone -- but we cannot celebrate yet. As long as there are Ebola cases in any country in the region, all countries are at risk," said Ban, who stressed community engagement and active surveillance are essential, while warning of the virus spreading because of lapse in vigilance.

Ban urged the General Assembly to continue lending its political weight to the effort to fight Ebola and donors to continue their contributions.

According to Ban, the United Nations system will work with national governments and regional partners to ensure that all investments in fighting Ebola serve as the basis for carrying out longer-term recovery and for strengthening national health systems.

Ban said he would convene an International Ebola Recovery Conference on July 10, with the purpose of addressing issues related to the fight on Ebola and helping mobilize the resources needed to start early recovery.

"My appeal to you is clear: we are in the last mile of the response, but the job is not done. We need you to persist in supporting the region in getting to a resilient zero cases and then beginning to recover," said Ban.

According to the latest case counts by the World Health Organization, the Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 11,000 lives as of May 31, with West Africa being the hardest-hit region. Endite