Unicef ​​reports at least 3,700 African children orphaned by the Ebola virus

At least 3,700 children in Guinea Conakry, Liberia and Sierra Leone have lost one or two parents due to the virus, according to estimates released today by UNICEF.

Unicef ​​warns that the number of orphans due to virus could double between now and mid-October in the wake of the epidemic has intensified in recent weeks.

Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Regional Director for West Africa, said in teleconference from Dakar that “the figures we have are only the tip of the iceberg”.

One of the main problems faced by these children is the fact that often their families reject them for fear that they may get infected with the deadly disease.

Before this situation, Unicef tries to create ​​child units to host these orphaned children, and one of the possibilities would be that the survivors of the virus could take care of them.