MONROVIA, September 17 (LINA) - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has said it is a “significant” decision by the United States Government to directly assist Liberia with US military personnel to curtail the spread of the Ebola virus.

According to President Sirleaf, the US and Liberia maintain “a historic friendship” and as such, Liberia looks forward to working closely with the U.S. government to finalize plans and to deploy new resources for the Ebola fight.

The President’s message was read by Information Minister Lewis Brown at the ministry’s regular daily Ebola press briefing in Monrovia on Wednesday.

President Sirleaf hoped the decision by the United States will encourage the rest of the international community to take action, noting, “Our American partners realize that Liberia cannot defeat the virus alone.”

She noted that the fight against Ebola is not simply a Liberian or West African fight, adding, “The entire community of nations has a stake in ending this crisis.”

The Liberian leader stressed that the people of Liberia have “suffered greatly” since the disease took hold of their country, but noted that “Liberians are a strong and resilient people,” saying, “As president, I will not rest until we defeat Ebola.”

US President Barrack Obama on Tuesday, September 16, announced that the United States Government will dispatch to Liberia 3,000 U.S. Army personnel to help the Government of Liberia eradicate the virus.

He also on the same day asked Congress to approve an additional US$500 million to support the fight against Ebola in West Africa.
LINA PSN/TSS/PTK