West Africa may lose an average of at least US$3.6 billion per year between 2014 and 2017 as a result of the Ebola crisis in the region, a United Nations report has said. According to the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) report, the downturn is due to a decrease in trade, closing of borders, flight cancellations and reduced Foreign Direct Investment and tourism activity, fuelled by the Ebola stigma.
West African nations that experienced low or zero incidence of Ebola have already been affected by the Ebola crisis because of their deep connections with the three most affected countries, said the report released in New York recently.
“The consequences of Ebola are vast. Stigma, risk aversion and shutting down of borders have caused considerable amounts of damage, affecting economies and communities in a large number of countries across the sub-region,” Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, Director, UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa said.
The report said Ebola has also had an important impact on human development as the region’s per capita income is expected to fall by $18.00 annually between 2015 and 2017.
“In Côte d’Ivoire, the poverty rate has risen by at least 0.5 percentage points because of Ebola, while in Senegal the proportion of people living below the national poverty line could increase by up to 1.8 percent in 2014. In addition, food insecurity in countries such as Mali, and Guinea-Bissau is expected to increase,” the report indicated.
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The document also calls for an integrated recovery package, which includes re-opening borders, creating effective social safety nets for affected and vulnerable populations.