Ebola Crisis in West Africa - Emergency Humanitarian Assistance - UNICEF 2014

October 2014 - On August 8 2014 the World Health Organization declared the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa an international health emergency. The Ebola outbreak started in Guinea and spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. There have been over 10 000 cases of Ebola virus in Guinea Liberia and Sierra Leone to date including close to 5 000 deaths. The current outbreak is unprecedented in terms of its scale geographic reach humanitarian impact as well as its social and economic repercussions. The number of cases and deaths surpass all previous Ebola epidemics combined. With DFATD’s support the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is helping to reduce and control the spread of the Ebola virus in Guinea Liberia and Sierra Leone and to provide care to those affected. Project activities include: (1) strengthening social mobilization through hygiene promotion and distributing education and communication material and non-food items such as soap and chlorine; (2) providing access to water hygiene and sanitation for the populations living in Ebola affected areas; (3) providing psychosocial support to children and families affected by Ebola; (4) establishing a system of identification and care of children orphaned by Ebola; and (5) preparing for the return of children to school in 2014-15 and support to alternative education channels for quarantined areas where children are not able to attend schools.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to water hygiene and sanitation for the populations living in Ebola affected areas; (2) enhanced psychosocial support to children and families affected by Ebola; (3) identification and care of children orphaned by Ebola; (4) increased preparedness for the return of children to school in 2014-15; and (5) enhanced support to alternative education channels for quarantined areas where children are not able to attend schools. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or acute food insecurity.