Statement by H. E. Mr. Margus Kolga Permanent Representative of the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations UNSC open debate on peace and security in Africa. Ebola. 
18.09.2014
I would
like to thank the Council and President for convening an open debate on this
urgent matter. Estonia fully aligns itself with the statement of the European
Union.
The
Ebola outbreak has already claimed over 2,400 lives and affected millions of
people - and the peak has not even been reached. Half of the cases occurred in
the last three weeks. This is not only a public health emergency – this is a
humanitarian crisis and global security issue. International action is needed
now.
Madam
President,
Allow
me to sincerely thank the healthcare workers in the frontline for their
tireless and courageous efforts to bring this crisis to an end. Their work is
carried out under extremely difficult conditions and more than 120 healthcare
workers have lost their lives and more than 240 have now been infected.
The
high number of infected healthcare workers is also affecting the health systems
in the ravaged areas. The need for strengthening
the health sector is growing every day as the number of people affected is
progressing faster than the ability to manage them. The severe shortages of
trained medical staff; health facilities, medical supplies and community
education on Ebola must be our main priorities. The World Health Organization
has called on more human resources in the affected areas.
Madam
President,
We
welcome the establishment of a system-wide coordination initiative established
by the Secretary General to assist the affected countries in their efforts to
halt the spread of the virus. We highly appreciate
the work that has already been done and encourage the continued focus on effective strategies and humanitarian partnerships. We
also welcome the plans of setting up an Ebola crisis center to coordinate the
response to the deadly virus and to strive to halt the spread in West African
countries.
Madame
President,
Estonia
has already contributed 60,000 euros to the World Health Organisation and has
decided to contribute an additional 40,000 euros. We are also sending a doctor
to one of the ravage areas to assist in the important work in the health
sector.
And I
can assure the affected countries that we will work within the EU and its
Member States actively to find possible options to reduce the growing isolation
of these areas in the region.
Madam
President,
If the
situation continues, the consequences can be disastrous in terms of lost lives
but also in terms of severe poverty, food insecurity and displacements and a
high risk of spread to other countries.
The situation is now on the verge of becoming a humanitarian catastrophe.
We can
stop the spread of Ebola but it will take a coordinated international response
to do so. The international community
must act now, if we want to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. We can’t afford
not to act.
Thank
you.
 
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