BRUSSELS: The European Union urged the international community on Monday to make up for “precious time” lost in the response to the deadly Ebola outbreak in west Africa, calling for more contributions to fight the crisis.

The worst-ever Ebola contagion has killed more than 2,400 people in west Africa since it erupted earlier this year and aid agencies deplore an inadequate international response to an emergency that shows no sign of abating.

Know more: Ebola outbreak: UN chief calls for global fight

The United Nations said last week Ebola cases are multiplying “faster than the capacity to manage them” and the president of Liberia, with more than half the victims, has warned the outbreak is destroying the country’s social fabric.

Several months into the crisis, an international response is now beginning to get on track, with the EU and the US each beginning to step up plans to make up the lost ground.

“We are behind the curve and for a reason,” EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said at the special talks in Brussels to devise a Europe-wide response to the outbreak.

“When the warning signs were there, it took some time for the international community to pay attention. Precious time was lost. “To make up the ground, the commission last week announced 150 million euros ($195m) in aid to fight the crisis and Georgieva on Monday urged member states to add more.

European countries “can present a very strong commitment” at the UN to help the countries hardest-hit, she said.

IMPORTANT MOMENT: The United States is also set to raise its response.

On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama will ask Congress to approve a request for $88 million to help meet the crisis.

Obama will also travel to Atlanta to meet medical authorities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a hub for Ebola research, and announce new aid to affected regions in West Africa.

The Pentagon has already announced it will send a 25-bed field hospital to Liberia and the US military could help direct supplies, set up tent hospitals and deploy medical personnel needed to isolate and treat those suffering with the disease.

“This is an important moment in the fight against Ebola,” said French Health Minister Marisol Touraine in Brussels, adding that France was also to set up a treatment centre in Guinea.

At the EU meeting, a dozen countries offered to boost aid, including Ireland and Germany.

EU officials meanwhile urged countries not to give in to fear.

“We must isolate the disease, but not the country,” said Tonio Borg, the EU’s Health Commissioner.

He was referring to international airlines that have cut links to the affected countries, which also include Sierra Leone, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The risk is small for European nations, but we must remain vigilant,” Borg said.

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on the Ebola crisis on Thursday to find ways to scale up the global response to the epidemic, the US ambassador announced.

“It is crucial that council members discuss the status of the epidemic, confer on a coordinated international response and begin the process of marshalling our collective resources to stop the spread of the disease,” US Ambassador Samantha Power said Monday.

The UN is appealing for $600 million for supplies as part of a massive surge of aid, with countries asked to send doctors, nurses, beds, trucks, equipment and other vehicles to the affected nations.

The world body has set a goal of stopping the spread of Ebola within six to nine months but aid agencies are complaining that help is slow in reaching those in need.

“Our collective response to date has not been sufficient,” said Power, whose country holds the presidency of the 15-member council this month.

Published in Dawn, September 16th , 2014