[ 2014-08-23 ]

Two year jail terms for hiding Ebola victims in S.Leone
Freetown (AFP) - Sierra Leone, battling a deadly
outbreak of Ebola, passed a law on Friday that
will see anyone harbouring a victim of the disease
facing a two-year jail term.

The attorney general announced the new measure as
a top parliamentarian lashed out at neighbouring
countries for failing to do more to help resolve
the crisis.

Sierra Leone has been one of the hardest hit by
the epidemic, with 374 deaths and 907 cases since
the outbreak began.

"A maximum of two years jail term will be imposed
on anyone caught hiding somebody who is believed
to be infected with the deadly Ebola disease,"
Attorney General Frank Kargbo said after
introducing the bill into parliament.

With tensions over the outbreak running high, the
majority leader of the house, Ibrahim Bundu,
criticised neighbouring countries that he said had
abandoned Sierra Leone.

"We are appalled by the slow pace of response by
some of our development partners and the
abandonment and isolation from those we viewed and
believed to be our biggest friends at
sub-regional, regional and global levels," he said
in a statement.

He called the cancellation of flights and closing
of borders to contain the virus "ugly
developments" that were leading to further
isolation and causing businesses to shut down "at
the time of greatest need".

He said Sierra Leone would be reviewing its
relations with countries that the government felt
had snubbed their cries for help "when life
returns to normal".

According to the latest figures from the World
Health Organization, 1,350 people are now believed
to have died from the Ebola virus, which has been
raging in the region since March.

The WHO said it was concerned that families were
hiding infected loved ones in the belief they will
be more comfortable dying at home.

Source - AFP

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