THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2014

The United Kingdom and Japan’s donations to the Governments of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the United Nations Population Funds donation over 50,000 worth materials to enable pregnant women get the right treatment, the escape of over 17 suspected Ebola Patients at the West Point Ebola Treatment Center and UNMIL’s 30 vehicles donation in support of the Government-led fight against Ebola are among stories dominating our summary of the local dailies for today, Monday, August 18, 2014.

DOMINANT STORIES

UK, Japan Donate US$8.3M Toward Ebola Fight

The New Dawn Newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that the Government of the United Kingdom, through the Secretary of State for International Development, supported by the DFID Country Offices in Liberia and Sierra Leone has approved support for the Ebola Response plan valued at 8.3 Million United States Dollars (US$8.3M). This brings the UK total financial commitment in both countries to nearly US$10 million.  A Foreign Ministry release says the UK support is in response to the Regional Plan for Ebola Response for West Africa, including  the Government of  Liberia’s Ebola Action Plan;  the Accelerated Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Response Plan issued by the Government of Sierra Leone and the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Ebola Outbreak Immediate Response in West Africa. The release indicated that following discussions with Ministries and partners in both counties, the funds will be used to strengthen government coordination capacity in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and provide support to United Nations Agencies in their coordination and response to the crisis as well as increase the case management capacity in response to the growing caseload of infected patients.  In another development, the Government of Japan on Friday, August 15, 2014, extended an emergency grant aid of US$1.5M through WHO, UNICEF and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) to support the Ebola outbreak response in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone respectively.

Related Captions: UK, Japan Join Ebola Fight…Commit US$ 8.3M (The News), UK, Japan Commit 9.8M ( In Profile Daily), UK And Japan Join Ebola Fight (Heritage), UK And Japan Join Ebola Fight, Commit Additional 8.3M and 1.5M to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea (FrontPage Africa), UK, Japan Commit 8.3M ( INSIHGT)

Ellen, Obama Chat On Ebola Presence

The President of the United States of America, Barrack Obama, has underscored his country’s commitment to work with Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and other international partners to contain the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. A release from the Executive Mansion said, President Obama also expressed his condolences for the lives lost to Liberia and other affected countries. According to the release, the U.S. President made the commitment when he made telephone call to the Liberian leader last Thursday about 2:45 Post Meridian, IN PROFILE DAILY reports.

Related Caption: Obama Telephones Ellen(The New Dawn)

UNFPA Gives Over US$50,000 Materials to Health

 TheInquirer newspaper writes that the United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) over the weekend donated over 50,000 worth of assorted items to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Speaking at the Ceremony held at the National Drug Service, UNFPA-Liberia Assistant Representative, Dr.  Philderald Pratt said the assorted items are to be shared with other medical institutions to enable pregnant women get the right treatment.

Related Captions: UNFPA Donates Anti-Ebola Materials (The News), UNFPA Donates to Ebola Response (Heritage)

West Pointers Attack Ebola Treatment Center -Loot Health Facilities, Patients’ Personal Belongings

All hell broke loose on Saturday night when several residents of the densely populated slum community of West Point in Monrovia, broke into a quarantined center for suspected Ebola patients in the community.  The protestors looted every item they could lay their hands on at the center.  Eyewitnesses accounts say, the protestors looted items such as clothes belonging to the nurses, patients’ mattresses, beddings, cooking utensils and as well as the medications and other essential health facilities.  According to reports, at least 20 patients, who were being monitored for symptoms of the deadly Ebola disease, fled the center, and health personnel are yet to locate them up to the present.  Other narrations confirmed that blood-stained beddings looted from the center posed a serious infection risk to members of the community and all those who may come in contact with such looted items. The protesters were reportedly unhappy that suspected Ebola patients were being brought in from other parts of Monrovia and its immediate environs to the center for treatment. However, Assistant Minister for Preventive Services at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mr. Tolbert Nyenswah, told a news conference Sunday that everyone at that center were all suspected and none had proven to be positive, despite unconfirmed reports at least two had proven positive,  Daily Observer reports.

Related Captions: West Point Runs Amok: Why Was Ebola Isolation Unit Ransacked (FrontPage Africa), West Pointers Vandalize  Ebola Center-As Confusion as Patients Vanish in Liberia(The Analyst), West Pointers Reject Ebola Center- Hospital Looted (The Inquirer), 17 Ebola Patients on the Run (The News), West Pointers Loot  Ebola Unit ( The New Dawn), Protesters Attack Quarantine Center (FOCUS)

President Sirleaf Pays Tearful Tribute To Willis Knuckles

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf joined hundreds of friends, family and colleagues who gathered in Careysburg Saturday morning to lay to rest the remains of the late Willis DeFrancis Knuckles, Jr. President Sirleaf began her eulogy in the form of a Letter: “Dear Willis...” A deeply saddened President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, in her tearful tribute, described the late Knuckles as an awesome strategist who, she said, immensely, committedly and honestly contributed to her successes in the 2005 and 2011 Presidential Elections. She said he was introduced to her as a ‘rising star’; and as a non-partisan, he began to effect his strategies and organizational skills during presidential campaigns. She asserted that she saw it fitting for Willis to be part of her first cabinet team as Minister of Publics Works and later as Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, but characteristically coined his departure from her government as “untimely,” adding that “He held no bitterness,” Daily Observer reports.

Related Caption: Knuckles Laid To Rest(New Dawn)

UNMIL Donates 30 Vehicles For Use Of Ebola Fight

Liberia’s Deputy Health Minister for Administration Matthew T.K. Flomo receives a set of vehicles from UNMIL’s Director of Mission Support Hubert Price as a donation to strengthen Liberia’s battle against the Ebola virus. The UN Mission here on Friday handed over the first six of the 30 vehicles it is donating to the Government of Liberia for use in the fight against Ebola. “The donation of 30 vehicles is one example of how UNMIL is supporting the Government-led fight against Ebola,” said UNMIL’s Director of Mission Support Hubert Price during a brief handover ceremony at the Mission’s logistical base on Bushrod Island in Monrovia. Accepting the donation on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was the Deputy Minister for Administration, Mathew T. K. Flomo, who was accompanied by the Assistant Minister for Administration, John M. Linga. UNML’s Chief of Integrated Support Services Francisco Rouillon served as a witness of the handover of the four Nissan Patrols and two Toyota Prados,   New Dawn writes.

Related Captions: UNMIL Donates 30 Vehicles to Ebola Fight(In Profile Daily), UNMIL Gives 30 SUVs in Fight Against Ebola-Delivers First Six As Example of UNMIL Support to End Ebola(INSIGHT)

OTHER STORIES

India Congratulated-On 67th Independence Celebration

The President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has congratulated the Government and People of India on the occasion commemorating the 67^th Independence Anniversary of that country. In her message to His Excellency Pranab Mukherjee, President of the Republic of India, President Johnson Sirleaf on behalf of Liberia extended deep felicitations and best wishes to the Government and People of India and noted with satisfaction that over the years, the two countries have enjoyed friendly relations and cooperation. The Liberian leader further asserted that India has contributed immensely towards Liberia peace consolidation and economic recovery efforts. President Sirleaf also expressed confidence that the existing ties between both countries will continue to expand and intensify for the mutual benefits of both states. She wished for the Indian leader continued well - being and for the welfare and progress of the People of India, writes the In Profile Daily, quoting a Foreign Ministry release.

Mercury Liberia Terminates Employees’ Contracts Over Ebola Fears

Tension brewed on Thursday, August 14, at the Randall Street office of Mercury-Liberia after employees stormed the company's offices in demand of their salaries. They were demanding that the company settle their arrears, when executives announced that their contracts had been terminated due to the rapid spread of the Ebola virus in the country. Mercury-Liberia is the operator of the Premier Sports Betting Games in Liberia. The employees in an interview with the Daily Observer described the termination of their contract as “illegal” and called on government to hold the company responsible to pay them off. The employees through their spokesperson, Barnabas S. Nagbe, explained they were shocked to hear from the company’s suspending their activities in the country, due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus,” Nagbe said.     When the management of Mercury-Liberia was contacted through mobile phone, they could not deny nor confirm the communication. Instead, they told our reporter that they would issue a response in due course.  

EU Pledges Solidarity In West Africa’s Ebola Fight

The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) has pledged the Union’s solidarity and support for the four West African countries experiencing an epidemic of the fatal Ebola disease. It also pledged the Union’s support and solidarity for the health workers and international organizations that are doing their utmost to combat the disease in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, IN PROFILE DAILY writes.

I. Coast Somersaults, Lifts Blockade On Ebola-Hit Liberia, S.L

The Ivorian Government appears to have had a change of heart with the lifting of suspension of ships from regional neighbors affected by the deadly Ebola virus, from docking at its port, FrontPageAfrica has learned. In a circular note to ship owners, consignees and insurers of vessels, port authorities, obtained by FPA, Mr. E. Kanga, Director of the Port of Abidjan writes: To: All Shipping Lines, Brokers And Shipping Insurance Companies This Is To Inform Shipping Lines, Brokers And Shipping Insurers That The Measures Previously Announced And Which Banned Ships From Ebola Infested Countries To Dock In Abidjan Are Hereby Lifted. Therefore, Any Ship Which Meets The Usual Contractual Agreement May Dock In Abidjan If They Wish To Do So.  Furthermore, Health Safety Measures To Be Taken Regarding Ships Coming From The Above Mentioned Countries Will Be Communicated At A Later Date. The Decision Is Effective Immediately And Rescind The Previous Decision Referenced As 0265/Dgpaa/Doms/Ds/Ss/Tfc Signed by E. Kanga, Managing Director Of The Port Of Abidjan. Last week, the Ivorian port authorities sent out a similar circular to ship owners signaling a blockade beginning August 12, 2014, advising that beginning August 12, 2014, “NO VESSEL arriving from one of the contaminated countries is allowed to call in Abidjan until further notice. 

Hans Williams, Wife Regain Freedom -As Supreme Court Releases Them On Murder Charges

Judges of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia, headed by Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor, say the ruling of lower court Blamo Dixon by sentencing defendants Hans C. Williams and his wife Mardia Paykue Williams to life imprisonment for murder has been changed and the two lovers are freed citizens. Handing down the opinion of the full bench of the highest court (Supreme Court) during the official closure of the Supreme Court in its March Term of Court 2014 on 15 August 2014 in Monrovia, Chief Justice Korkpor said during the trial, state lawyers failed to produce evidence that could have convicted the two defendants for the crime of murder. Hans Williams and his wife Mardia Paykue Williams were arrested in November 2007 and subsequently forwarded to court for prosecution for the murder of Angel Mardia Togba who was a foster daughter of the accused. Following Judge Blamo Dixon's judgment of the guilty verdict against defendants Hans Williams and Mardea Paykue, lawyers representing said defendants led by Cllr. Frank Musa Dean took an exception to the Judge's judgment and took an appeal to the Supreme Court, The New Republicwrites.

New Isolation Centers Opened For Ebola Cases

The Ministry of Health Organization has commissioned two new isolation centers – one at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center (JFK) and the other at the ELWA Hospital. The isolation center at the ELWA, according to head of the Incident Management System, Mr. Tolbert Nyenswah, is a 120-bed facility that would greatly ease congestion at the first ELWA facility while the one at JFK is a 40-bed facility,INSIGHT reports.