Johannesburg - African Union chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will travel to Ebola-hit West African nations, one of the most senior officials to do so since the outbreak, her spokesman said on Wednesday.
AU Commission chairperson Dlamini-Zuma will visit Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia “to assess the situation first hand”, her spokesman said in a statement, without giving the exact dates of the trip.
She will be accompanied by UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) chief Carlos Lopes, as well as the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) president, Donald Kaberuka.
“We remain committed and in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in West Africa to put the Ebola epidemic under control,” Dlamini-Zuma said in the statement.
“We commend the ongoing continental and global efforts, but frankly, a lot more needs to be done to raise the needed resources considering the magnitude and rate of increase of the epidemic.”
The deadliest-ever outbreak of Ebola has claimed more than 4 500 lives in West Africa, and experts warn the rate of infections could reach 10 000 a week by early December. - AFP