Fighting Ebola

The above article deserves some topical updates.

There already seems to be a consensus that the Ebola crisis is international and multidimensional, affecting not only public health but has  also food security, social cohesion and economic and political stability. Nobody is immune from the global threat posed by Ebola.

Fighting it demands global solidarity  and effective coordination of efforts at all levels.

From this perspective, the most authoritative inter-regional call for action against Ebola came from  the Tenth Summit of  Asia – Europe Meeting (ASEM 10 ) which was held in Italy last week. The meeting was attended by leaders and politicians of 53 Asian and European countries, including Thailand.

Leaders present at ASEM 10  expressed their concern that the spread of the Ebola virus is a serious threat to global health and security. They acknowledged the efforts by ASEM partners in providing aid to affected areas and called for further urgent action and greater national, regional and international collaboration to end the Ebola outbreak in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, including an exchange of best practices.

This appeal is in full harmony with the very recent decision of the United Nations General Assembly to create the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response whose effectiveness  will greatly depend on the potential spirit of  genuine solidarity of 193 member states  in their collective battle against Ebola. 

Ioan Voicu

Bangkok