Japan's Abe Pledges 40-M.-Dlr Aid to Fight Ebola

New York, Sept. 25 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday pledged 40 million dollars in additional assistance for the international fight against Ebola. In a speech at a high-level meeting at the U.N. headquarters here on the deadly disease, Abe said Japan is ready to do whatever it can to help end the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. The meeting, hosted by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, brought together Abe, U.S. President Barack Obama and African leaders. The ongoing Ebola crisis is an urgent problem that could affect the peace and security of the world, Abe said. The Japanese assistance will come on top of some 5 million dollars in aid the country has already provided. Besides the assistance, Japan will provide some 500,000 sets of protective suits, goggles and gloves to affected areas. END