UN Ebola response efforts at ‘full capacity’ following warehouse fire

0a3_24
0a3_24
Avatar of Linda Hohnholz
Written by Linda Hohnholz

NEW YORK, NY – The UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) has reported that a main United Nations logistics hub managed by the World Food Program (WFP) in Guinea is fully operational despite

NEW YORK, NY – The UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) has reported that a main United Nations logistics hub managed by the World Food Program (WFP) in Guinea is fully operational despite the fire that swept through the facility last week threatening medicines and laboratory materials used in the fight against Ebola.

The warehouse fire was discovered around 8:00 a.m. local time on 18 December when workers arrived at the facility in the main humanitarian logistics base of the airport and of the city of Conakry, the capital of Guinea – one of the three most affected countries by Ebola in West Africa.

“WFP has assured partners that, despite the fire last week, Conakry main logistics hub is operating at full capacity,” UNMEER stated in its latest situation report on the Ebola outbreak. “The cold chain capacity has already been re-established via the setup of donated refrigerated 40 foot containers.”

The news followed UN reports regarding the spread of the Ebola virus across West Africa.

According to the latest update released today by World Health Organization (WHO), 19,497 people have now been affected by Ebola, with 7,588 reported deaths, including 666 health-care workers who are known to have been infected up to the end of 21 December, 366 of whom have died.

In addition, WHO noted that reported cases were fluctuating in Guinea and decreasing in Liberia, and that there were “signs” that the increase in incidence had slowed in Sierra Leone although, the agency added, the country’s west was “now experiencing the most intense transmission in the affected countries.”

Against that backdrop, the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) today reported that a fourth staff member had tested positive for Ebola.

Two of the affected mission personnel died of the disease three months ago, while another member of UNMIL’s personnel who contracted the disease has recovered and was discharged from hospital this week.
Karin Landgren, UNMIL’s chief, said in a statement that Liberians could be proud of the progress they had made in fighting the disease but urged them to “take extra care as they gather with friends and families over the holidays,” especially in light of the newly reported infection.

“The confirmation of this new case is a stark reminder that we must all remain vigilant until there are no cases in Liberia or West Africa,” her statement continued. “The mission is taking all necessary measures to mitigate any possible further transmission – both within the mission and beyond.”

“Although the security situation in Libya continues to be volatile, UNHCR has managed to resume distribution of core relief items in the country from our warehouse,” Saado Quol, the agency’s Chief of Mission in Libya announced. “We understand assistance is also needed in the east and south, where access is severely restricted. We are exploring how additional humanitarian items can be distributed to the eastern cities.”

Meanwhile, in New York, the Security Council expressed “grave concern about the serious deterioration on the security situation and the continuing fighting” in Libya, after hearing a briefing from Mr. Léon via videoconference.

Speaking to reporters following the closed-door session, Ambassador Mahamat Zene Cherif of Chad, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency for December, said the inflow of unregulated weaponry into the country was also of concern to the 15-member body, as it was “contributing to the crisis despite the arms embargo.”

The Council reiterated its support for Mr. Léon’s mission and called on all Libyan stakeholders “to accept an immediate ceasefire and engage in the dialogue process.”

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...