The president of Liberia appealed to the world’s nations Friday to help fund Ebola recovery programs in the three countries worst affected by the deadly virus.  

At an international conference in New York, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf also called on nations to forgive billions in debt owed by Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

The theme of the two-day conference is about getting to zero cases of Ebola, staying there and then moving into the recovery phase.  

The U.N. said that the three West African countries would be seeking about $3.2 billion in financial commitments for the next two years, but Johnson-Sirleaf said the subregional plan for recovery would be closer to $4 billion.

Johnson-Sirleaf states case

Speaking on behalf of the Mano River Union, which includes Guinea and Sierra Leone, she called on the international community to cancel more than $3 billion of their debt.

“There is no doubt that cost is high [and] the resources required significant. … Is this asking too much?  We say no, because a strong Mano River Union can be a formidable force for recovery and resilience in the subregion,” Johnson-Sirleaf said.

In the past year, Ebola has infected more than 27,000 people and killed 11,000 in West Africa. The epidemic has recently slowed dramatically, with about 30 new cases identified each week.  Liberia had been declared Ebola-free, but lost that designation after a handful of new cases appeared.  Guinea and Sierra Leone have not yet gotten to zero cases.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the U.N. mission created last year to help West Africa battle Ebola would begin shutting down next month, but that support would continue through the World Health Organization and U.N. country teams.

He urged countries and financial institutions to be generous with their support, noting that the impact of Ebola has been far-reaching, eroding progress on peace and development.

International financial institutions and individual countries began announcing their pledges Friday afternoon.  The United States is contributing $266 million.  Total commitments were not immediately available.
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