ECOSOC convenes 'Threat of Ebola on sustainable development' meeting

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) convened Friday a special meeting on the threat of Ebola on sustainable development.
The ECOSOC President, Martin Sajdik, expressed readiness to help mobilize all its partners including a network of non-governmental organizations, to ensure that economic recovery efforts help stabilize the worst affected countries, strengthen their preparedness to prevent future outbreaks.
The economies of the three most affected countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have experienced significant setbacks, and need urgent global attention beyond the treatment of the last ebola case, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said.
Ban confirmed that the virus has killed more than 6,000 people, more than 3,000 children have been orphaned, and families have lost income.
The stigma and fear associated with Ebola have also disrupted education, agriculture, industry and commerce within the affected countries, he added.
Incomes are down, prices have risen, markets are bare and people are hungry. That is why it is imperative that we begin to focus on recovery at the same time as we work to end the Ebola outbreak, he said.
Back from the affected countries yesterday, the Secretary General's Special Envoy on Ebola, David Nabarro spoke at the same meeting and said even while the fight to eliminate Ebola continues, the world should pay attention on helping the affected societies build back what they have lost.
Long term recovery will need significant resources and the sustained commitment of the international community and the UN system, he said.
The Ebola outbreak has weakened the ability of governments to collect revenue, at the same time, expenditures have risen by about 30 percent in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone because of Ebola, said Nabarro.
According to the World Bank, General Assembly 69th session President Sam Kutesa noted that the effect of the Ebola epidemic on sub-Saharan Africa's economy is expected to be around USD 3-4 billion.
It is also estimated, he said, that the short-term GDP growth rate projections in 2014 decreased from 4.5 percent to 2.4 percent in Guinea, from 5.9 percent to 2.5 percent in Liberia and from 11.3 percent to 8 percent for Sierra Leone.