KEY POINTS
The new Head of UNMEER, SRSG Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, assumed his functions on 3 January and will visit the three most affected countries in the coming days.
UNICEF is ensuring that all children registered in Liberia as orphaned by EVD are receiving follow-up and psychosocial support.
The National Coordinator in Guinea briefs responders on the launch of the campaign “Zero Ebola in 60 days”.
Key Political and Economic Developments
The New Head of UNMEER, SRSG Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, assumed his functions on 3 January. In a joint townhall meeting with outgoing SRSG Banbury, SRSG Ould Cheikh Ahmed praised the achievements of all Ebola response partners, but also noted challenges ahead. He stressed that “this is a global crisis. We definitely have a difficult time ahead of us, but we can achieve our goal of zero cases,” said Ould Cheikh Ahmed. “This is within our reach, but we should not be complacent. We need to keep going until we don’t have even one case, because even one case is too many”. Together with the Special Envoy on Ebola, Dr. David Nabarro, SRSG Ould Cheikh Ahmed will be visiting Liberia, Sierra Leone this week and Guinea shortly after.
Incoming UNMEER Guinea Ebola Crisis Manager (ECM), Mr. Abdou Dieng, arrived in Conakry on 3 January.