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Denmark steps up ebola fight contributions

The Local Denmark
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Denmark steps up ebola fight contributions
A pregnant woman suspected of contracting Ebola is lifted into an ambulance in Freetown, Sierra Leone last week. Photo: UNICEF

With a new report warning that over one million people could contract ebola by the end of the year, Helle Thorning-Schmidt announced financial support and a medical transport ship to the international response.

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Denmark will contribute a transport ship and an additional 20 million kroner to aid the fight against the deadly outbreak of ebola. 
 
PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt announced the contribution at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, saying Denmark will increase its contributions to the World Health Organization (WHO) and make a ship available for the transport of emergency aid to African countries battling an ebola outbreak.
 
“Ebola is not just a regional challenge. It has become a global crisis. Denmark is committed to this cause. We have already contributed to the international response, including to the UN’s humanitarian air service and we will now increase our support,” Thorning-Schmidt said. 
 
 
"Today I can announce that Denmark will provide a maritime transport capacity to the UN. With this, we can support the construction of needed housing facilities for the international health personnel in the affected areas. And we will provide additional funding to the WHO," the prime minister said in New York.
 
According to the WHO, nearly 6,000 people have been infected with ebola in the western Africa countries of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. The death toll has passed 2,800.  
In a report released on Tuesday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that Liberia and Sierra Leone could see as many as 1.4 million cases of ebola by the end of the year. 

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