Debt relief for Ebola-hit countries

Washington - The International Monetary Fund will discuss debt relief for Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone at the Group of 20 leaders meeting in Australia as it considers further support for the countries most affected by the Ebola outbreak, an IMF spokesperson said on Thursday.

The United States, the IMF's biggest donor, first proposed the idea of writing off some $100m in debt owed to the IMF by the three countries to support their economies and free up more money for government spending.

IMF spokesperson Bill Murray declined to comment on a specific figure for the debt relief, but said IMF managing director Christine Lagarde will discuss this issue with donors at the G20 meetings in Brisbane, Australia.

The IMF provided an additional $130m to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in September to help them cope with the economic impact of the deadly Ebola virus.

The virus has infected at least 14 098 people, most of them in these three West African countries, and 5 160 have died, according to the World Health Organization.