US Troops to Bolster Ebola Mission in Liberia

By Steven Hogg - 30 Sep '14 08:18AM

The United States aims to swiftly increase its presence in Ebola-hit Liberia, said Major General Darryl Williams leading the U.S. mission in the West African nation.

"This is about urgency and speed. So what you're going to see here pretty soon is forces flown here," Major General Darryl Williams told journalists in Monrovia on Monday.

"I have 175 soldiers and I have another 30 that are in other countries that are beginning to set up the logistics hub to fly forces in here," he said, reportsReuters.

Two weeks ago, President Obama had announced a broad expansion in the U.S. efforts in fighting the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. As part of the plan, U.S. is sending 3,000 troops, including engineers and medical personal to West Africa to help in the fight against the disease.

Nearly half of the troops will be stationed in Liberia while the rest would provide logistical support outside the country.

Williams said the U.S. mission aims to put up 17 Ebola treatment units across the country though the Liberian government would lead the endeavor.

"The (Armed Forces of Liberia) has a great capability. They are already out there ... and helping us, because they have this knowledge of the local area. So we are not doing anything by ourselves," he said.

The U.S. Embassy in Monrovia said Monday that work to construct a 25 - bed unit to treat infected health workers, had started in Margibi Country in central Liberia. U.S. Ambassador to Liberia Deborah Malac said that the unit aims to give a high standard of care to infected health workers who put themselves at risk while serving in the country. She added that the U.S. mission will send 65 medical personnel to work at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the U.N. mission to fight Ebola opened its headquarters in Ghana on Monday. The U.N. mission will co-ordinate with other countries in their efforts to fight he outbreak.

The United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) will find out the regions where maximum help is needed and ensure that aid reaches there, said Christy Feig, director of communications for WHO, reports ABC News.