Ban Ki-moon asks for $1 billion to fight Ebola

, Oct 17: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday asked the international community for $1 billion to combat the

epidemic, which he said he believes can be overcome if all actors "work together effectively".

"Dozens of countries are showing their solidarity," Xinhua quoted Ban as saying to reporters at UN headquarters.

He added "but we need to turn pledges into action" and setting on Dec 1 as the deadline for reducing the rate of transmission of the disease.

"We need more doctors, nurses, equipment, treatment centers and medevac capacities. I appeal to the international community to provide the $1 billion launch that will enable us to get ahead of the curve and meet our target of reducing the rate of transmission by Dec 1," said Ban.

The UN chief, who on Thursday exchanged his habitual blue UN tie for a purple one in honor of the day of solidarity with homosexual, bisexual and transsexual youth, thanked those who have contributed to the anti-Ebola effort so far.

He said that now is the time for other countries who have the ability to provide support against Ebola to do so, naming Cuba, Venezuela, China, the US, France and Britain as some of the states who have shown their solidarity with this cause.

According to the latest World Health Organization figures, around 4,500 people have died of Ebola since the epidemic began in March and about 9,000 people have become infected with the virus.

IANS