UN urges leaders to help fight Ebola

2014-11-15 2,542

Oxfam campaigners in Australia say time is running out -- the global community has 15 days left to meet the UN deadline for containing the Ebola outbreak.

The virus has killed about 5,000 people in West Africa.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has said he wants the majority of cases there treated by the end of November.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON SAYING:

"Transmission continues to outpace the response from the international community. I urge the leaders of G20 countries to step up so that we can meet the 70-70 targets, that means isolating and treating 70 percent of all Ebola cases and providing safe and dignified burials to 70 percent of those who have died."

The international community has chipped in, building over 50 Ebola treatment centres in West Africa.

But more needs to be done -- only a third of them are currently in operation.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) OXFAM AUSTRALIA CHIEF EXECUTIVE, DR HELEN SZOKE