AlQa'dah 22, 1435, Sep 17, 2014, SPA -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Wednesday that it could provide Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone with an additional $127 million to help with the worst-ever outbreak of the Ebola virus. The funds, which must still be approved by the IMF's executive board, could help cover financing gaps in the West African countries over the next six to nine months, which the Fund estimates at $300 million in total. "The Ebola outbreak is a severe human, social and economic crisis that requires a resolute response from the international community," IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said in a statement. "The governments of the three countries have requested additional IMF support to help cover the acute financing needs they are facing as a result of the outbreak." "Additional and prompt balance of payments and budget support from the countries' bilateral and multilateral development partners will be important to support macroeconomic stability through this challenging period," the IMF said. Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone are among the poorest countries in the region and the hardest-hit by the Ebola epidemic, which has killed almost 2,500 people.
