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Ebola crisis: No impact from pledges of help, MSF says Ebola crisis: No impact from pledges of help, MSF says
(35 minutes later)
Recent pledges of help and deployments to Africa's Ebola-hit regions have had no impact on the epidemic, a senior Medecins Sans Frontieres official says. International pledges of deployments and aid for Africa's Ebola-hit regions have not yet had any impact on the epidemic, a major medical charity says.
Christopher Stokes, who heads the charity's Ebola operation, said it was "ridiculous" his volunteers still bore the brunt of care for sufferers. Christopher Stokes of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said the disease was still out of control.
The remarks came as UN chief Ban Ki-moon pleaded for funds, as a drive for donations fell short of its target. He said it was "ridiculous" that volunteers working for his charity were bearing the brunt of care in the worst-affected countries.
The disease has killed about 4,500 people so far, mostly in west Africa.The disease has killed about 4,500 people so far, mostly in west Africa.
MSF currently runs about 70% of the 1,000 beds available in treatment facilities across Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the countries worst affected by the outbreak. MSF runs about 700 out of the 1,000 beds available in treatment facilities Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The BBC's Mark Doyle, at the UN Ebola logistics base in Ghana, says it is generally agreed that at least three times that number are needed and that the disease is still out of control.The BBC's Mark Doyle, at the UN Ebola logistics base in Ghana, says it is generally agreed that at least three times that number are needed and that the disease is still out of control.
There have been some high-profile offers of help from the international community, our correspondent says, for example the British army building a field hospital in Sierra Leone. Donors have given almost $400m to UN agencies and aid organisations, and there have been some high-profile offers of help from the international community, our correspondent says, for example the British army building a field hospital in Sierra Leone.
But Mr Stokes told the BBC that these initiatives would not have any significant impact for a month or six weeks. However, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday made another urgent appeal for funds to help fight the disease, saying a $1bn trust fund he launched last month had received only $100,000.
"We're pleased by the fact that people seem to be realising how difficult this is and the scale of the response needed," he said.
"We're just disappointed with the deployment as it puts in danger our chance of really getting on top of this collectively."
If Mr Stokes is right, and little changes between now and December, our correspondent adds, the world may not have a workable plan to tackle Ebola.
Another NGO, Action Aid, said the outbreak had to be tackled at source in west Africa.Another NGO, Action Aid, said the outbreak had to be tackled at source in west Africa.
Its head of humanitarian response, Mike Noyes, said in a statement: "There remains an urgent demand in countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone for more doctors, nurses, medical supplies and support for preventative measures.Its head of humanitarian response, Mike Noyes, said in a statement: "There remains an urgent demand in countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone for more doctors, nurses, medical supplies and support for preventative measures.
"It is vital the world increase its efforts in fighting the disease.""It is vital the world increase its efforts in fighting the disease."
Mr Noyes added that the current Ebola outbreak had already claimed three times as many lives as all previous outbreaks.Mr Noyes added that the current Ebola outbreak had already claimed three times as many lives as all previous outbreaks.
Growing chorusGrowing chorus
On Thursday, UN Secretary-General Ban said a $1bn trust fund he launched in September has received just $100,000 (£62,000) so far. Calls for more aid have also been made in recent days by US President Barack Obama, UK PM David Cameron, and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.
Mr Ban joins a growing chorus of world leaders criticising the global effort to tackle the Ebola outbreak.
Donors have given almost $400m (£250m) to other UN agencies and aid organisations directly but the UN trust fund, intended to act as a flexible spending reserve, has itself only received pledges of just $20m (£12m).
Of those countries that have pledged money to the trust fund, only Colombia has paid, giving $100,000 (£62,000).
Mr Ban said it was time for the countries "who really have capacity" to provide financial and other logistical support.
Similar calls have been made in recent days by US President Barack Obama, UK PM David Cameron, and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has told the BBC he was "bitterly disappointed" with the international community's response.Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has told the BBC he was "bitterly disappointed" with the international community's response.
"If the crisis had hit some other region it probably would have been handled very differently," he said in an interview with BBC Newsnight."If the crisis had hit some other region it probably would have been handled very differently," he said in an interview with BBC Newsnight.
"In fact when you look at the evolution of the crisis, the international community really woke up when the disease got to America and Europe.""In fact when you look at the evolution of the crisis, the international community really woke up when the disease got to America and Europe."
The World Health Organization has said it is "ramping up" efforts to prevent Ebola spreading beyond the three countries most affected.The World Health Organization has said it is "ramping up" efforts to prevent Ebola spreading beyond the three countries most affected.
WHO official Isabelle Nuttall said 15 African countries were being prioritised for help in prevention and protection, with the four countries directly bordering the affected areas - Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Senegal - getting the most attention.WHO official Isabelle Nuttall said 15 African countries were being prioritised for help in prevention and protection, with the four countries directly bordering the affected areas - Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Senegal - getting the most attention.
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Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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