EU duplicates economic aid to combat Ebola in Africa

AP

The European Union (EU) will take their aid pledges to combat Ebola epidemic in West Africa at 1,000 million euros, announced this Friday the president of the Council, Herman Van Rompuy, during a summit of heads of government in Brussels.

Because of the speed with which the virus progresses, the EU “will increase its financial aid to 1,000 million euros to fight Ebola,” Van Rompuy said on Twitter.

The 28 Member States and the European Commission had announced the previous day promises for financial aid up to 600 million.

Prime Minister David Cameron had set a target of 1000 million on Thursday to reach to the summit in Brussels.

The sources, who did not give details on how to allocate the burden countries, indicated that the 1,000 million are included the 600 previously committed.

The Ebola epidemic has caused almost 5,000 deaths in West Africa and 10,000 cases of infection were recorded.