Israel has pledged a whopping $8.75 million – the largest per-capita investment by any nation — to a United Nations fund aiming to combat the spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa.
The donation to the UN’s Ebola Response Multi-Partner Fund comes after the Israel already sent fully equipped medical clinics to West Africa and medical specialists to operate the clinics and train local health workers there.
“We thank Israel for their generous contribution to help stop Ebola and for recognizing that children are especially vulnerable during emergencies,” said Caryl Stern, president and CEO of the US Fund for UNICEF. “Although progress has been made in controlling Ebola, much remains to be done to fully stamp out the disease and provide care to children whose lives have been upended by it.”
The Government of Israel also asked that a portion of the gift be earmarked to UNICEF, to provide services for children affected by the disease.
According to a UNICEF press statement, Ebola has infected nearly 19,000 people and claimed over 6,900 lives across West Africa. An estimated five million children also remain out of school as a result of the emergency.
“The donation from Israel could not have come at a more critical time, as global attention on the crisis is waning,” said Stern. “This is an investment not only in current efforts to combat the virus, but also in the long-term health and well-being of children and families across West Africa.”
