IMF to provide additional funds to counter Ebola while NGO's criticizes the G20 statement as lacking  substance
(Two stories, scroll down.)
THE GUARDIAN                                                                                                      Nov. 15, 2014
By Patrick Wintour

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA --The G20 has welcomed a commitment from the IMF to provide $300m (£190m) in extra funding to help fight Ebola in the three worst-affected west African countries.

The IMF money for Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia will come through “a combination of concessional loans, debt relief, and grants”, according to a statement issued by the world leaders’ summit, being held in Brisbane.

The G20 also claimed to be “committed to do what is necessary to ensure the international effort can extinguish the outbreak”, while pointedly urging “governments that have yet to do so to join in providing financial contributions, appropriately qualified and trained medical teams and personnel, medical and protective equipment, and medicines and treatments”.

The IMF had previously estimated the epidemic would be brought under control by the first quarter of 2015, but now believed this was likely to be the second half of the year, increasing the cost to the countries affected. It has forecasted that growth estimates for the three countries is likely to be downgraded.

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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/15/ebola-imf-set-to-unveil-debt-relief-at-g20-for-worst-affected-countries

G20 statement on Ebola stops short of financial commitments

 REUTERS                                                                                                                    Nov. 15, 2014

By Jane Wardell

BRISBANE -- The Group of 20 world leaders on Saturday committed to mobilising resources to combat the Ebola epidemic that has killed some 5,000 people, but stopped short of agreeing to a global pandemic fund.

The G20 issued a joint statement on the crisis, saying all members are "committed to do what is necessary to ensure the international effort can extinguish the outbreak and address its medium-term economic and humanitarian costs".

Oxfam Australia Chief Executive Helen Szoke said a lack of urgency and specific commitments in the statement meant there was a real risk a U.N. target to treat 70 percent of cases by Dec. 1 will not be met.

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said on Friday the idea of establishing a global emergency fund that could quickly respond to a health crisis had received interest from some leaders. Funds could be raised on the international bond markets and paid back over time, he said.

The G20 statement called on both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to explore new flexible mechanisms to address the economic effects of future comparable crises, but did not specify a particular approach.

"This declaration lacks substance," said Friederike Röder, spokesman for the ONE organisation, which campaigns against poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa.

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http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/11/15/g20-summit-ebola-idINKCN0IZ0CS20141115