Posted on 10/29/2014 9:15:42 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Sierra Leone, Liberia and the United Nations have condemned Australia's decision to suspend entry visas for those travelling from Ebola-infected countries, and called the move "counterproductive" and “discriminatory.” Australia's travel ban, issued Monday, closely followed the U.S.'s decision to isolate its military personnel returning from Ebola-hit countries.
Australia’s decision has also reportedly been criticized by Amnesty International while U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned that travel restrictions would severely hamper efforts to curb the virus' spread. The World Health Organization, or WHO, has also warned that travel bans and restrictive quarantine measures could discourage health workers to travel to Africa to help tackle the disease. And, authorities are concerned that deploying health workers in affected regions is becoming a challenge amid travel bans and isolation measures implemented by various governments.
World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim has estimated that the three worst-hit countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea need 5,000 overseas health workers to tackle the virus.
"Right now, I'm very much worried about where we will find those healthcare workers," Kim said, according to BBC, adding: "With the fear factor going out of control in so many places, I hope healthcare professionals will understand that when they took their oath to become a healthcare worker it was precisely for moments like this."
Anthony Banbury, head of the U.N. Ebola Emergency Response Mission, said according to Reuters: "Anything that will dissuade foreign trained personnel from coming here to West Africa and joining us on the frontline to fight the fight would be very, very unfortunate."
Sierra Leone’s Information Minister Alpha Kanu, called Australia’s move discriminatory and said: "It is not (going) after Ebola but rather it is ... against the 24 million citizens of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea," adding: "Certainly, it is not the right way to go," according to Reuters.
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said that the move by some U.S. states of quarantining people arriving in the country could be an overreaction. She also urged Australia to rethink its travel ban.
“Anytime there's stigmatization, there's quarantine, there's exclusion of people, many of whom are just normal, then those of us who are fighting this epidemic, when we face that, we get very sad," Sirleaf said, according to Reuters.
The current Ebola outbreak, which is the worst on record, has so far killed nearly 5,000 people and has infected more than 10,000 people, mostly in West Africa
Do they (including the UN ) also criticize the following countries:
https://www.internationalsos.com/ebola/index.cfm?content_id=435&;
Africa
Cameroon on 17 September reopened its borders to travellers from Senegal. An 18 August ban remains in place on travel from Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Cape Verde on 9 October announced that it would now deny entry to non-resident foreigners coming from countries with ‘intense Ebola transmission’ – Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia - or who have been to those countries in the previous 30 days.
Chad on 21 August closed its land border with Nigeria at Lake Chad. The country previously reportedly banned the entry of any travellers originating or transiting through Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria or Sierra Leone, with airlines serving the country reportedly rerouting flights.
Côte d’Ivoire in early October reopened its borders with Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, having closed the borders of 23 August.
Equatorial Guinea is denying entry to travellers whose journeys originated in countries affected by Ebola.
Gabon stated on 22 August that it is restricting the issuance of entry visas to travellers from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria on a case-by-case basis.
Gambia on 1 September suspended entry of persons who have visited Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone or Nigeria in the 21 days prior to travel. Those travelling indirectly from any of the aforementioned countries to Gambia via another country also come under this measure.
Kenya on 10 October announced that it had closed the Suam border crossing (Trans-Nzoia county) with Uganda due to reports of an Ebola-related death in Bukwo district (Uganda). Earlier, the Kenyan authorities on 19 August suspended entry of passengers travelling from and through
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, excluding health professionals supporting efforts to contain the outbreak and Kenyan citizens.
Mauritania on 25 October closed its border with neighbouring Mali after an Ebola-related death in the border town of Kayes (Mali).
Mauritius on 8 October banned entry to all travellers who have visited Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia,
Senegal and Congo (DRC) in the last two months, rather than just citizens of those countries, as was the case previously. The authorities have announced that entry restrictions for travellers from Senegal and Nigeria will be lifted on 10 October and 17 October respectively, if no further cases of Ebola infection are reported.
Namibia’s foreign ministry on 11 September announced that foreigners travelling from countries affected by Ebola would be prohibited from entering the country.
Rwanda, according to the US Department of State on 22 August, has banned entry to travellers who have visited Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone in the 22 days prior to travel.
Senegal on 21 August closed its land border with Guinea, while the country’s sea and air borders will also be closed to vessels and aircraft from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Seychelles on 8 October suspended entry to travellers who have visited Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Nigeria or Congo (DRC) 28 days prior to their journey, with the exception of Seychellois citizens.
Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states – Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe – have stated that travellers coming from Ebola-affected countries (according to the World Health Organisation, WHO) would be monitored for 21 days and that travel to member countries for any gatherings would be discouraged. The SADC provided no details as to how member countries will carry out the associated screening and follow-up and it is likely that countries will have individual processes. There are also reports that some countries require health documentation for entry. Travellers are advised to contact the embassy or health ministry of their destination country to clarify their individual circumstances and prepare their trips accordingly.
South Africa on 21 August restricted entry for all non-citizens travelling from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The government subsequently clarified that this was not a blanket ban and could be waived for ‘absolutely essential travel’.
South Sudan has placed a ban on travellers coming from Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia or Congo (DRC), or those who have travelled to those countries in the preceding 21 days. According to the health ministry, entry of travellers from Nigeria depends on their travel history in that country and whether they have visited Ebola-affected areas.
Americas
Antigua and Barbuda on 17 October imposed an entry ban on nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The ban will also apply on anyone who travels to the country within 21 days of visiting any of the aforementioned nations.
Belize announced on 18 October that it will stop issuing visas for nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria. Sierra Leone nationals, who do not need visas to enter Belize, will also be banned. In addition, travellers who have visited any of the aforementioned countries in the past 30 days will be prohibited from entering the country.
Colombia imposed an entry ban from 14 October on any traveller who has visited Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal or Sierra Leone in the past four weeks. The restriction would also reportedly apply to Colombian nationals.
The Dominican Republic has banned entry to travellers who have been in the following countries in the past 30 days: Sierra Leone, Senegal, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria, as well as any countries that the World Health Organization has deemed to be affected by the Ebola virus.
Guyana announced on 16 October that visas will not be issued to nationals from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Furthermore, health officials will screen travellers who have visited these countries in the six weeks prior to their arrival in Guyana.
Haiti has banned (PDF) entry to travellers who have been to Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone in the past 28 days. Travellers who have been to these countries more than 28 days before travel to Haiti must present a government-certified health certificate and the results of a blood test for the Ebola virus upon arrival. It is uncertain at this time how these measures will be carried out or enforced. International SOS is monitoring the situation.
Jamaica imposed an entry ban from 16 October for travellers arriving from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as those who have visited these countries within the four weeks prior to their arrival. In addition, any Jamaican national who travels to the aforementioned countries will be quarantined for 28 days on return.
Panama on 22 October banned the entry of travellers who have visited Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in the past 21 days. The ban will remain in place until the three countries are declared Ebola-free.
St Kitts and Nevis have restricted the entry of nationals from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Similar measures will also be applied to travellers who have visited these countries in the 21 days prior to arrival.
St Lucia has banned visitors from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The government has also announced that, in addition to a visa, visitors from Nigeria will be required to present a recent medical certificate clearing them of the virus. No further details are available at this stage, though we are investigating further.
St Vincent and the Grenadines has banned visitors from Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Suriname has banned entry to foreign travellers who have been to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in the past 21 days, unless they can present an ‘internationally recognised health certificate’ clearing them of the virus. No further details are available at this time.
Trinidad and Tobago announced on 16 October that it would deny entry to nationals of Congo (DRC), Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. In addition, travellers who have visited any of the aforementioned countries in the past six weeks will be quarantined for 21 days upon arrival.
Can the world just please grow the hell up. When did we become people who could not just face facts, as ugly as they may seem, and do the right things?!
“travel restrictions would severely hamper efforts to curb the virus’ spread”
And up is really down and night is really day. Yep, liberal logic at it’s very best!
I applaud them.
How dare the Aussies protect their people...
RE: “travel restrictions would severely hamper efforts to curb the virus’ spread”
This one has NEVER been explained to me. How does it hamper efforts to curb the virus spread?
“RE: “travel restrictions would severely hamper efforts to curb the virus’ spread”
This one has NEVER been explained to me. How does it hamper efforts to curb the virus spread?”
They are thinking a travel ban means docs and materials cannot get into ebola infected areas. Nobody said special arrangements could not be made so to me the argument does not make sense.
RE: They are thinking a travel ban means docs and materials cannot get into ebola infected areas. Nobody said special arrangements could not be made so to me the argument does not make sense.
_________________
PRECISELY.
These people don’t understand the difference between COMING FROM and GOING TO.
Right - let’s spread this virus all over the world so everyone will be equal and happy.
But, but, Australia is a rich developed country! They should welcome diseased diversity! [/sarc]
Ebola is like a doorknob — everybody gets a turn.
Haven’t had your turn yet? Come over here.
Part I-- for non-US citizens travelling to the US
1) if the US institutes travel restrictions, they will come anyway but most likely illegally over the border and we won't be able to track them. (there are multiple fallacies in this argument)
2) It is better to let them come here, and treat those who become ill here. (except that no one can accurately predict how many infections would occur, and the current US response is probably not deliverable if there were several hundred or thousand infections in one metropolitan area.)
Part II-- for US medical personnel who volunteer to go to Africa
1) the disease is best fought in Africa, so we should encourage qualified personnel to volunteer their services(probably true)
2) a quarantine upon arrival back to the US, will either stigmatize those volunteers unfairly or discourage them from going in the first place. (I have a very hard time believing this-- and so far we have seen no stigma attached to those US citizens who have recovered from the disease.)
That’s right! Disease IS the new diversity.
Austrailia, ignore the UN and the countries that have been incompetent in controlling this epidemic. And protect your people.
Any traveler who spends half their quarantine in any of the non-infected countries in the UN who objects to the full 21 day quarantine in Oz can come directly to Australia afterwards.
With a free two week vacation in Coober Pedy...
RE: if the US institutes travel restrictions, they will come anyway but most likely illegally over the border and we won’t be able to track them.
Did he explain how an ebola infected person from Liberia without a US visa can come to the USA or even Mexico?
Actually, the best rebuttal I have seen of this is from Chertoff’s WP opinion piece. He made the point that most illegal immigration over the border is handled by smugglers. Those smugglers are very unlikely to want to transport those who they suspect to be ill— it would ruin their very lucrative business.
What I do wonder about is what would happen if there were an Ebola outbreak in Central America. As a recent American general said, this would cause a massive exodus of people flowing into the US — and would be very hard to stop.
Obama’s solution is to let the US be the magnet — because he is so very certain that we can treat however many infected people end up here.
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