Decision on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Outbreak - Doc. Assembly/AU/3(XXIV)

DECISION ON EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE (EVD) OUTBREAK
Doc. Assembly/AU/3(XXIV)

The Assembly,

1. TAKES NOTE of the Commission’s Report on the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak (EVD) and the Report on the Socio-Economic Impacts of the EVD on Africa prepared by the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the recommendations therein;

2. COMMENDS the Commission and its Chairperson for their invaluable efforts to deal with the crisis of Ebola in West Africa, including:

1. the implementation of the ASEOWA and the subsequent deployment of health volunteers from Member States to help countries affected by Ebola and RECOMMENDS the extension of ASEOWA’s mandate;

2. the mobilization of financial support and human and material resources;

3. the solidarity of the Member States, partners and the private sector;

4. the initiative undertaken at the level of mobilization of funds through the SMS with the cooperation of operators of companies of mobile.

3. ALSO COMMENDS the health volunteers who have provided heroically eminent services to our brothers and sisters in Guinea,, Liberia and Sierra Leone;

4. CALLS UPON Member States, who have not yet done so, to lift all restrictions imposed on Ebola affected countries in accordance with the decision of the Extraordinary Session of Executive Council of 8 September 2014, which advocated inter alia the non-closure of borders, and non-stigmatization of affected countries and their nationals;

5. INVITES the Member States that have accumulated rich experience in the fight against Ebola to share their knowledge with affected countries;

6. REQUESTS the international financial institutions and partner countries to cancel the debt of the three affected countries (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone) to alleviate the impact of the Ebola crisis on the economies of these countries and assist in their economic recovery and development;

7. APPROVES the recommendation to urgently convene a Global Conference on the Ebola epidemic in 2015 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea and REQUESTS the Commission to liaise with all stakeholders in this regard towards the implementation of this Decision;

8. REQUESTS the Commission to submit regularly to Member States status reports on the Ebola epidemic, including relevant_statistics and all contributions received, as well as their use;

9. URGES Member States and all stakeholders to continue their assistance to the affected countries;

10. APPEALS to the scientific community to accelerate the search for a vaccine against Ebola;

11. CONGRATULATES the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for having generously accepted to host AFCON 2015, despite the Ebola Outbreak, and for the excellent organization and facilities provided to this important event and EXPRESSES ITS HIGH APPRECIATION in this regard;

12. REQUESTS the Commission to pay directly to Member States affected by Ebola (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone) US$ 500,000 as originally agreed;

13. DECIDES to remain seized of the matter and REQUESTS the Commission to report on progress and the implementation of this decision to the 27th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in June 2015.