Ban announces closing of UNMEER

NEW YORK, July 31 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced that the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) will close today, as it has achieved its core objective of scaling up the response on the ground and establishing unity of purpose among responders in support of nationally-led efforts.
Actively striving to end the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Ban said in a statement, "we have reached an important milestone in the global Ebola response." Ban confirmed that as of August 1, oversight of the UN systemآ’s Ebola emergency response will fully be led by the World Health Organization (WHO), under the direct authority of the WHO Director-General Margaret Chan.
UN agencies, funds and programmes, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the UN Mission in Liberia and national and international partners have undertaken the necessary steps, to enable this seamless transition, he said.
"I have determined that, to maintain the high-level, dedicated UN leadership needed to get to zero cases, the Ebola Crisis Managers will remain in the countries under the oversight of WHO and with the support of the UN Resident Coordinators and UN country teams," Ban said.
In Liberia, this high-level UN leadership for the Ebola emergency response will be provided by Banآ’s Deputy Special Representative and Resident Coordinator, with the support of the UN country team, as well as his Special Envoy on Ebola will continue to provide strategic guidance for the response.
The United Nations remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the Governments of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in getting to and staying at zero cases, he added.
With considerable progress made, the crisis is not yet over, the UN Chief confirmed, therefore, at this critical juncture, additional resources are needed by the UN and partners to "sustain full support to nationally led efforts to end the outbreak and to support recovery activities in affected countries." Moreover, the Secretary General urged Member States to sustain the financial and political support necessary to end the outbreak.
Kuwait generously contributed to fighting this disease with the amount of USD five million, helping the vulnerable governments to face the disease. (end) mao.ajs