The World Health Organization (WHO), together with other nations, intensifies relief operations to Sierra Leone in response to increasing number of Ebola deaths. Official WHO records show 537 deaths out of 17,145 of total Ebola cases in the country, with 385 new ones since the start of the month.
World Bank president Dr Jim Yong Kim announced Wednesday a $US160 million worth of economic recovery assistance until the end of 2016. In a meeting with Sierra Leone's Ernest Bai Koroma, Kim added that the fund will be channeled directly to regional operation sites in the severely affected towns in the western and northern parts of the country.
Aside from immediate food and medical assistance, the aid is focused in sustaining agriculture and infrastructure developments. "We must make sure that the Ebola epidemic is not followed by a food security crisis," Kim said. Access to electricity is also included in the list of priority projects.
Due to alarming Ebola death rates, the World Bank predisposes that economic recession looms in Sierra Leone next year. Gross domestic product, as per the forecast, could drop to $US900 million.
Food production is also expected to decrease since the planting season is limited from June to August only, not to mention September heavy rains that can greatly affect produce.
A United Nations research revealed that 47 percent of people from Sierra Leone believed that the Ebola crisis has affected their agricultural industry to a massive extent.
Meanwhile, Kim consequently flew to Conakry, Guinea's capital, to discuss heath measures with government officials. As of the latest WHO update, the virus' spread in Guinea slightly increased while Liberia managed to control infection.
Similarly, the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) reported that all of aforementioned countries have met its December 1 goal of safely burying patients who perished from the virus. By January 1, UNMEER is set to close the gap to 100 percent as part of its 90-day outbreak plan.
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