UAE joins UNICEF in the global fight against EBOLA

Abu Dhabi, 15 July 2014 – UNICEF and the UAE Ministry of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD) are partnering to implement a US$ 5 million project to fight Ebola in the three West African nations of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leon.

This latest contribution comes as part of the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and which was ordered by His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the U.A.E. Armed Forces to support the global fight against the spread of the deadly EBOLA virus. 
                                    
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the world's worst Ebola epidemic since the disease was identified in 1976. The outbreak, which began in Guinea in early 2014 and quickly spread to the neighboring countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia, has claimed the lives of more than 3500 individuals to date.

The disease has had a devastating effect on the daily lives of communities and far reaching implications on the health and wellbeing of children. Children face not only the direct risks of exposure to the virus, but also the risks associated with the loss of their parents and family members and the limited access to basic services such health care, education and protection services. 

The UAE’s contribution comes at a crucial moment, as the number of infected people is expected to rise. The contribution will allow UNICEF to continue to implement programs that focus strongly on educating communities about how to understand, treat and stop the spread of the disease as well as procuring key supplies for use in Ebola Treatment Units and community care centers. Most importantly, UNICEF is focusing on restoring and protecting the delivery of basic social services such as maternal and child healthcare, water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, education and protecting children who have lost their parents and have faced the fear and terror of death and disease. 

“This valuable contribution from the UAE is not surprising. The UAE has been championing the cause of health and emergency response for many years and have been able to achieve remarkable results in several causes such as polio eradication.” Said Dr. Ibrahim El Ziq, UNICEF Gulf Area Representative. ”UNICEF and the government of the UAE have been close partners in a number of emergencies such as the Syria response, Gaza and now the fight against Ebola. It is heartening to see this strong understanding for the needs of children and this unwavering commitment to urgently provide the needed support from the Government of the UAE.”