US President Barack Obama said Thursday the world was not doing enough to combat Ebola outbreak and that more countries were needed to contribute critical assets and capabilities to contain the epidemic.
"In an era when regional crises can quickly become global threats, stopping Ebola is in the interests of the entire world," Obama said at a UN high-level meeting on Ebola, warning that this disease could cause a humanitarian catastrophe across West Africa, reported Xinhua.He said aid from countries could include air transport, medical evacuation, health care workers, equipment, and treatment.The US president also called on international organisations to move faster and mobilise partners on the ground and encourage more foundations and businesses to contribute to the fight through their own resources and expertise.The US has sent 3,000 military personnel to contain the spread of Ebola virus in west Africa and set up a military command in Liberia to support civilian efforts across the region.
"Stopping Ebola is a priority for the United States," Obama said. "This must also be a priority for the world."
More than 2,800 people have been killed by outbreak of the Ebola virus, with the overwhelming majority of the deaths taking place in the three west African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).WHO warned Tuesday that unless Ebola control measures in west Africa are enhanced quickly, more than 20,000 people will have been infected by early November.