Australia To Donate $24 million

The Australian government has pledged to donate $24 million to aid the battle against the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

This was announced by Prime Minister, Tony Abbott on Wednesday, November 5.

$20 million of the money is to be used in staffing a 100-bed treatment center which is expected to be built by the United Kingdom before the end of November.

The nation’s government has refused to send health care workers to help battle the disease and Abott expressed his reservations about putting Australian citizens at risk.

He said:

“We have been particularly concerned that any Australian personnel going to West Africa should be able to access appropriate treatment and evacuation procedures.”

“In the last few days we have had assurance from the United Kingdom that they would treat any Australian working in the Ebola-impacted parts of West Africa as though he or she were a citizen of the United Kingdom.”

Australia has been criticized for the move and also for placing a visa ban on countries battling Ebola.