Press Release: EU boosts anti-Ebola aid after Commissioners’ mission to worst-hit countries

The European Union was continuing to scale up its response to the Ebola epidemic as its Coordinator for the emergency, Commissioner Christos Stylianides together with Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health, returned from a four-day mission to the affected countries on the 17 November 2014.

New funding of €29m will be made available by the European Commission:
+ €17m for transporting vital aid supplies and equipment to the affected countries, evacuation of infected international aid workers to hospitals in Europe and training and deploying health workers to the ground. Money will also reinforce local health facilities.

+ €12m in assistance to the neighbours of the affected countries, to help them prepare for the risk of an Ebola outbreak through early detection and public awareness measures.

The new funding brings the European Commission's assistance for this emergency to €373m. The European Union's total contribution is close to €1.1bn. This financial aid is in addition to essential equipment, medical personnel from Member States and coordinated delivery of support.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Ebola http://www.europeansources.info/record/ebola/

ESO: Background information: Ebola response: EU scales up aid with planes, material aid and research support http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-ebola-response-eu-scales-up-aid-with-planes-material-aid-and-research-support/

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/1903: The European Union's response to Ebola emergency http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-1903_en.htm

EUObserver, 17.11.14: EU anti-Ebola funds not reaching aid workers, Red Cross says http://euobserver.com/social/126547

Deutsche Welle, 17.11.14: EU boosts funding to fight Ebola http://dw.de/p/1DowO

EUObserver, 28.11.14: Hollande first EU leader to visit Ebola-hit Guinea http://euobserver.com/news/126715

Deutsche Welle, 28.11.14: France's Hollande heads for Ebola-hit Guinea http://dw.de/p/1Dvac

BBC News, 28.11.14: Ebola crisis: French President Hollande visits Guinea http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-30241374

France24, 26.11.14: EU 'calls for 5,000 doctors' to fight Ebola http://www.france24.com/en/20141126-eu-calls-for-5000-doctors-fight-ebola-africa/

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