On 26 June 2014, we responded to a funding alert for the Ebola outbreak crisis in Sierra Leone
BACKGROUND TO THE CRISIS
An Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak started in Guinea in early 2014, and has now spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The total cumulative number of cases reported in the three countries as of the 23rd June 2014 was 635, out of which 399 have died (62.8%). People infected with Ebola have been identified in more than 60 separate locations across these three countries, which is complicating efforts to control the outbreak and treat patients.
Sierra Leone has only been affected by the outbreak in the past month. As of 24th June 2014, the total number of cases was 163 and 46 confirmed deaths according to the Ministry of Health. The hotspot of the epidemic in Sierra Leone is in the Kailahun district. Sierra Leone closed its borders with Guinea and Liberia on the 11 June 2014, and on the 12th June 2014, the Government of Sierra Leone declared a State of Emergency in the Kailahun district.
Read our full analysis of the funding situation for the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone.
Read ACAPS’ full analysis of the needs situation, provided in parallel to our analysis.
GHA AND THE START NETWORK
The GHA Programme is partnering with the START network to help to inform their funding allocation decisions. The START network is a consortium of British-based Humanitarian INGOs, which has recently launched its own fund to help fill funding gaps and enable rapid response to under-reported crises where need is great.
When the START members issue a funding alert, we produce (within 12 hours) a rapid overview of the humanitarian funding picture – recent funding, an overview of appeals and funds, and analysis of donor trends. The analysis is targeted not only at the START network but to a wider set of stakeholders engaged in these crises – including donors, humanitarian organisations, analysts, advocates, and citizens.
Image © Mike DuBose | UMNS