The United Nations Development Program Administrator, Her Excellency, Mrs. Helen Clark has commended the Government and People of Liberia for the incredible manner with which they tackled the Ebola epidemic which has been a very traumatic time for Liberia.

Madam Clark spoke at a press stake-out at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following her official solidarity and assessment visit to Liberia. The UNDP Administrator emphasized that the Ebola epidemic has been the cause of profound economic and social setbacks and many human tragedies. "The International solidarity should not end at the end of what has been an emergency fight but must continue in the support of economic recovery", she stressed.

According to Madam Clark, the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. BAN Ki-moon has asked UNDP to the lead the UN system on the support to be given the worst affected countries. She stated that the UNDP recently had and early recovery assessment vision with the World Bank, African Development Band and the European Union, and they are now in the process of working very closely with the Governments of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone to provide them with a common picture to the very important international meetings that are coming up including the Brussels meeting which is dated for next month, the World Bank and IMF meeting to be held in April and in late May, the UN pledging conference, this year respectively.

Commenting on the upcoming meeting, Madam Clark highlighted that the Brussels meeting is very important in keeping the focus on needs to moving to zero cases and thinking on the support the three countries need.

The UNDP Administrator urged the people of Liberia to work together to avoid crisis like the Ebola outbreak from reoccurring.

Speaking earlier at the press stake-out, Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan who proxy for Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, expressed thanks and appreciation to UNDP for the signing of US$2m for the Social Protection Program with the Ministry of Gender and Children Protection for extremely poor and labor constrain household in two counties including Lofa and Bong.

The Foreign Minister commended Madam Clark for being a good friend who has stood with Liberia through thick and thin through UNDP. Minister Ngafuan recalled that Madam Clark has proven to be very passionate about Liberia's sustainable development program and her commitment in working with Liberia has earned her the distinction as one of Liberia's all weather friends.

The Foreign Minister noted that Madam Clark has been briefed by various sectors and ministries on the huge challenges that constitute the social and economic impacts of the Ebola epidemic and also on the progress made by Liberia in beating back the Ebola virus.

"As chair of the UN Development Group, UNDP leads the recovery program of Liberia. Madam Clark's briefed meeting with President Sirleaf before the press stake-out centered on a broad range of issues, principle among which was the preparation for a meeting that will bring together the three worst affected countries recovery programs", stated Minister Ngafuan.

According to Minister Ngafuan, the Brussels' meeting in March will be attended by President Sirleaf along with the Presidents of Guinea and Sierra Leone, Representatives from the United Nations and Madam Clark. Minister Ngafuan told the press that meeting will also center on issues on the need to reactivate the Transfer of Knowledge through Expatriate National (TOKTEN) and Senior Executive Services (SES) program which is about helping to attract Liberian professions. Minister Ngafuan stressed that there's a need to attract Liberia's profession also especially Liberian doctors and professional in the educational sector that could come under the funding program of UNDP.

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