Ebola fundraising suffers in 'hierarchy of disasters'

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa demands fast action but donations from the public are lacklustre so far, aid groups say.

As of Monday, more than $326 million US in emergency humanitarian aid has been pledged worldwide, according to the Financial Tracking Office, which is managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The totals exclude some aid pledge to large donors such as the World Bank.

On Tuesday, WHO estimated it will cost nearly $1 billion US to contain the Ebola outbreak.

Relief organizations like Americares, which delivers medicine and medical supplies to West Africa, saidit has been a challenge to get donors motivated to respond to the Ebola outbreak compared with other disasters.

No 'jolt' to act with Ebola

"We have not yet crossed the million dollar mark," said Kevin Allan of Americares in Stamford, Conn. "To give you some comparison, about five weeks after Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines last year, we had raised about five times that."

When a sudden disaster strikes, the shocking images move people to act, Allan said.

"When something builds over weeks and months like Ebola has, there isnt that jolt that says, I have to do something, Because there isnt that, people dont reach for their wallets and unfortunately theres consequences."

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A Winnipeg-based charity is also strugglingto reach its target of $2,500.

"We havent been able to reach our goal quite yet because Ebola is still not really on peoples radar in terms of an issue that affects Canadians," said Jason Dudek of Accountable Development Works. The groups gofundme site lists a total of $233 raised.

Its also difficult to raise money for long-term problems that need long-term commitments, Dudek said.

The Humanitarian Coalition in Canada assists its members CARE, Oxfam, Plan and Save the Children during disasters to issue joint appeals.

Its a challenge that some disasters are more successful in terms of public awareness and fund raising than others, said Nicolas Moyer, executive director of Humanitarian Coalition of Canada in Ottawa.

"We are conscious that there is a hierarchy of disasters with people being more generous because theyre more aware when there are large disasters like a Haiti earthquake," Moyer said.

For the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, a star-studded telethon helped raise more than $3 billion for disaster relief.

The death toll from the Ebola virus has doubled in the past month to an estimated 2,461 people, half of the 4,985 infected, as of Sept. 13, the World Health Organization said.