BRISBANE, Australia: The leaders of the G-20 countries have urged stronger action against Ebola, a deadly virus that has claimed 5,177 lives in West African countries.
The two-day G-20 summit of world leaders began in the Australian city of Brisbane on Saturday, aiming to devise ways and means to promote economic growth in the world.
The participants were also expected to discuss the Ukrainian crises and the threat of Ebola.
In a joint statement issued late on Saturday, the G-20 leaders called for more financial contributions from all countries for Ebola-hit countries such as Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The G-20 leaders said that they were committed to international action that could extinguish the Ebola outbreak and deal with its humanitarian costs.
The world leaders also praised the financial aid announced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for three countries.
“We urge the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to continue their strong support for the affected countries and welcome the IMF”s initiative to make available a further $300 million to stem the Ebola outbreak and ease pressures on Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, through a combination of concessional loans, debt relief and grants.
“We ask the IMF and World Bank to explore new, flexible mechanisms to address the economic effects of future comparable crises.”
Earlier, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called on leaders of the G-20 countries to enhance their response to the outbreak of Ebola in West African countries.
“I would also like to stress the need to intensify the international response to the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa,” Ban said while speaking at the start of the G-20 summit.
The UN Chief also warned of a food crisis as the secondary impact of the spread of the deadly virus, caused by disruption in farming in a number of Ebola-hit countries such as Sierra Leone and Liberia.
