Luxembourg's development cooperation - Annual report 2014

Ebola fever claimed its first victims in January 2014 in Guinea-Conakry and then spread rapidly to the neighbouring countries, Liberia and Sierra Leone, with a few isolated cases in Mali, Nigeria and Senegal. Luxembourg was one of the first countries to respond, deciding to allocate an initial contribution in March 2014. Luxembourg’s total contribution to the fight against Ebola amounted to 1 100 000 euros for 2014. Luxembourg supported Médecins sans Frontières in an emergency project which included protective measures, medical treatment and psychological assistance, as well as monitoring and epidemiological investigation. A contribution has also been made to the specific trust fund (UN Ebola Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund) established by the United Nations in order to harmonise funding better, as well as to the WHO, which is responsible for coordinating the response of the various agencies. The WFP received support for its humanitarian aerial service and the UNHCR received support for its preparatory programmes in the refugee camps in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Luxembourg Red Cross received support for its regional programme to prevent Ebola in 6 West and East African countries where contingency plans have been put in place by the national Red Cross societies. Luxembourg also made a contribution to CRP-Santé for a project called “Microbiology for development” in collaboration with the University Hospital of Lagos (Nigeria).