China pledges 500m yuan Ebola aid to Africa

President Xi Jinping announced on Friday a 500 million yuan ($81.7 million) assistance package to fight Ebola as China continues its commitment to preventing the spread of the deadly virus in West Africa.

The latest package, the fourth round of China's donation programs for Ebola control in West Africa, comprising both cash and supplies, will go to worst-hit Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea and some organizations.

Xi also said China would send more medical workers to help with Ebola control and treatment in West Africa.

On Tuesday, China made a donation worth $2 million to the World Health Organization, which will be used to support the UN health body's work in responding to the Ebola outbreak in the three worst-affected countries.

"This Ebola outbreak is unprecedented in size and scope. This requires an unprecedented global response. WHO has been urging countries to step in to support the response effort, and we are very grateful that China has heeded this call," said Bernhard Schwartländer, WHO Representative in China.

The financial support announced by China comes on top of in-kind support already being provided by the Chinese Government, including multiple batches of emergency assistance, nearly 200 medical staff deployed to West Africa and a mobile laboratory on the ground in Sierra Leone, providing laboratory testing and disease surveillance.