Committed to assist in global efforts to combat Ebola: India

United Nations, Dec 10: As part of its commitment to assist in global efforts to combat the Ebola virus, India has signed an agreement with a UN agency under which $10 million pledged by it will be transferred to a global trust fund set up to address the threat posed by the deadly virus.

The Standard Administrative Arrangement was signed yesterday between Indian Ambassador to the UN Asoke Kumar Mukerji and Executive Coordinator at the Ebola Response Multi Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) office of UN Development Programme Yannick Glemarec.

"India stands ready and committed to contribute to the ongoing efforts of the international community to address the threat posed by the Ebola virus," a statement issued by the Indian mission to the UN said.

The UN system response to the Ebola outbreak was launched by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in September 2014 to unite efforts of all concerned UN entities and act as a platform for global control of the outbreak.

India had announced a contribution of $10 million to the fund and had pledged assistance of an additional $2million for purchase of protective gear to tackle Ebola virus attack prior to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UN in September.

The signing of the arrangement paved the way for transfer of the Indian contribution to the Ebola fund. India had also provided immediate financial assistance to three of the affected countries – Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea for purchase of medical supplies and subsequently provided half a million dollars to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to assist in the efforts of the international community to deal with this challenge.

PTI