Liberia: Konneh Reports On Ebola Trust Fund for October

Monrovia, Liberia - Finance and Development Planning Minister Amara Konneh has disclosed that as at October 31 the Ebola Trust Fund received a total of US$14.282 million for the fight against the Ebola disease.

Konneh said of this amount, the Ebola Trust Fund has disbursed US$8.387 million to and on behalf of various government entities.

Making the disclosure at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing in Monrovia on Thursday, Konneh noted that over US$4 million was disbursed to the Ministry of Health; US$2 million towards security operations, while US$745.000 was used for response and burial activities.

He told journalists that the Ministry has also disbursed US$931.000 to the six highly-affected counties of Bong, Margibi, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Gbarpolu and Montserrado for Ebola response-related activities outside of the Ebola Trust Fund mechanism.

The Finance boss further disclosed that as at October 25 the total donor commitments for Ebola response aid, including disbursement validated by the government, stands at US$373.3 million of which US$70 million represents additional funding from the World Bank, which has not been finalized.

He said apart from the additional funding from the World Bank, the remaining US$303.3 million includes a US$152 million commitment of resources from the United States Government which accounts for 41 percent.

He said this was the largest pledge so far to the Ebola fight in Liberia, adding, "This amount includes nearly US$100 million in-kind support from the US State Department."

According to Konneh, 34 percent of the total funds have been committed for use by United Nations entities; 11.5 percent for use by the Liberian Government, while the balance 13.3 percent is allotted for use by non-governmental organizations.

He, however, pointed out that of the US$303.3 million, US$244.7 million has been disbursed by donors to implementing partners or agencies which include donations such as supplies and construction activities that amount to US$103.5 million.

Konneh also indicated that US$12.8 million was disbursed on technical assistance while the remaining US$127 million was provided as actual cash donations. Download Minister Konneh's Speech

LINA