The Ebola epidemic is isolating affected countries from the global economy and freezing economic activity with devastating effect, Sierra Leone's finance minister said Saturday.
"Everybody is running away from Ebola, Kaifala Marah said at the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington.
"By default or design, it really is an economic embargo," he said.
According to Marah, the epidemic, which in just a few months has killed more than 4,000 people mostly in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, has stalled activity in the key sectors of the economy
Frightened by the rapid spread of Ebola, construction workers have abandoned work sites and equipment, he said. Tourism could fall by 60 percent.
That has also savaged government revenues, even as authorities are forced to increase spending in and effort to contain the outbreak and care for those stricken.
The freeze of activity importantly includes air transport, which he said will "stagnate and strangulate" the region.
"We've been isolated," he said.
"Every gain that we have made has been lost," he said.
GMT 14:02 2018 Sunday ,02 December
RDIF says $2 billion will be invested in Russian economy from joint Russian-Saudi fundGMT 12:03 2018 Friday ,30 November
Canada on track to sign new free trade deal with US and MexicoGMT 07:59 2018 Wednesday ,21 November
Merkel policies in focus in final debate on draft German budgetGMT 16:57 2018 Wednesday ,31 October
Putin to discuss relations development prospectsGMT 16:04 2018 Monday ,29 October
Russian, Cuban presidents to discuss strategic partnershipGMT 12:57 2018 Saturday ,27 October
"Undeclared war" forces Russia to boost defense spendingGMT 15:45 2018 Friday ,26 October
Medvedev to represent Russia at upcoming APEC summitGMT 14:12 2018 Thursday ,25 October
Saudi Arabia plans to invest in Russian-Chinese Fund soonMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor