India Signs Agreement With UN On Fighting Ebola

UNITED NATIONS: India affirmed its contributions to the international fight against the Ebola outbreak in an agreement with the UN that would, among other things, facilitate the transfer of $10 million pledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the UN efforts against the disease.

Asoke Kumar Mukerji, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, and Yannick Glemarec of the UN Development Programme inked the accord for the Ebola Response Multi Partner Trust Fund (MPTF). Glemarec is the executive coordinator of the fund, which was set up as part of the UN system-wide response to Ebola that was launched in October by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

India has also contributed $2 million for buying protective gear for those on the frontline of the fight against Ebola, which is devastating three West African nations - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has received $500,000 from India for its anti-Ebola campaign.

With the $10 million pledge, Modi was the first government head to announce a substantial contribution when the MPTF was set up in September. This set the ball rolling with pledges from other countries flowing in. Currently, India is the third largest contributor to the MPTF.

As of Monday, according to the WHO, Ebola has stricken 17,800 people and 6,331 have died from the disease.