Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, met with officials from Goal and Médecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) to discuss the Ebola crisis in West Africa and how Ireland can help tackle it.

The officials met with the Foreign Affairs Committee today to discuss their work in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“The reports from West Africa and from officials on the front line tacking Ebola are shocking.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported more than 5,843 cases, including more than 2,803 deaths in this current outbreak, but the big danger is that the infection rate could be far higher than the official figures.

“The simple fact is that the health systems of affected countries are completely overrun, groups on the frontline such as MSF and Goal are completely overwhelmed, and the rate and pace of this outbreak is unprecedented.

“There are widespread reports of people dying of Ebola in the streets outside health care clinics, which were too full to admit them, and of other Ebola victims staying at home where they are infecting their caregivers.

“Ebola outbreaks can be effectively stopped and thankfully Nigeria and Senegal have so far been contained but the international community needs to accelerat its response to the Ebola crisis.

“There needs to be more financial and physical support to the countries of West Africa and the organisations that are tackling Ebola in the weeks and months ahead.

“I welcome that the Government has pledged €600,000 to UNICEF to provide life-saving nutritional supplies for children affected by the Ebola outbreak and I urge them to step up their action to tackle this crisis.”

ENDS