Debt relief delivered for Ebola-stricken countries
March 26, 2015
The International Monetary Fund announced Thursday it had delivered on its promised debt relief for the three West African countries worst-hit by the Ebola epidemic.
In early February, the Washington-based international lender pledged $100 million (92 million euros) in debt relief for Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
On Thursday, the IMF also said it had approved $29.8 million in debt relief to Guinea as part of the institution's new Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust. Previously (CCR), the institution had granted $29.1 million to Sierra Leone and $36.5 million to Liberia.
"The CCR grant will be applied to immediately repay outstanding debt and free up resources for use in relief, containment and recovery efforts in the fight against the Ebola epidemic," the IMF said.
Since the outbreak of Ebola, more than a year ago, the epidemic has killed over 10,000 people, mostly in these three West African countries, and has ravaged their economies.
IMF spokesman William Murray said debt relief should help governments "fund increased public health spending and outlays during the crisis."
"The Ebola outbreak is not over," Murray said. "The Fund will continue to do all it can within its mandate to assist."
el/uhe (AFP, IMF)