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[Published: Sunday November 02 2014]

Ebola appeal receives £4m in two days, organisers
London, 2 Nov - (ANA) - A public appeal to help people affected by the Ebola crisis in West Africa has received £4 million in donations in its first two days, organisers have said. The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) said it had been "overwhelmed" by the "extraordinary generosity" of the UK public since the appeal was launched. The UK government is to match the first £5 million of donations made. Ebola has killed almost 5,000 people and infected more than 13,000 in West Africa since the start of the year. On Friday, the World Health Organisation said 4,951 people had died during the current outbreak, with 13,567 reported cases up to 29 October. Donations have been made after appeals were aired by the main UK broadcasters on Thursday. It is the first time the DEC has sought funds in response to a disease outbreak. "We are extremely grateful to the UK government for the aid match funding which is a significant boost to the appeal," chief executive of DEC Saleh Saeed said. "The UK government will match a further £1 million raised, so we encourage the UK public to donate as soon as possible to double the amount of their donation. "Our member agencies have already achieved so much - providing protective clothing, educating communities and supporting safe and dignified burials - but there is so much more to do." Agencies have been increasing their aid efforts in West Africa, where they have already helped more than 2.5 million people affected by the Ebola crisis, a DEC spokesman said. They included people in some in the worst-affected and most remote areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia, the spokesman added. Justin Forsyth, chief executive of the charity Save the Children, said donations would make "a massive difference" by helping to pay for nurses and doctors on the ground. Speaking to the BBC from Sierra Leone, he said officials needed additional staff and equipment and called on more governments around the world to offer financial support. (ANA)

FA/ANA/2 November 2014--------

 


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