Mining Companies Fight Ebola in West Africa

The resource-rich countries that have been hit by the Ebola outbreak, such as Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, are economically heavily dependent on mineral extraction. World renowned firms Rio Tinto and Vale, as well as other international companies, have been forced to act to tackle Ebola, which has killed more than 1,000 people since early March.

The responses of these multinational companies have varied. Some tried to help contain the crisis, others simply removed their international staff from the region. Most provide financial donations and increase sanitary protections for workers to help fight disease.

Rio Tinto, the world's third largest mining company that owns a stake in the Simandou project in eastern Guinea, has donated $ 100,000 to the World Health Organization's work in the area and is making additional supplies of medicines and equipment.

Vale, which has also been involved in the Simandou project since the end of April, has evacuated 6 international staff and sent the rest of the workers in the area on leave. Small firms that operate in Sierra Leone have also donated money to combat the spread of the disease, much of which will be used to train local communities to stop the virus.

WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said that “the biggest challenge is preventing the spread of the virus. As a result, more and more companies operating in the affected countries are now called upon to educate local residents and their workers. Any company or organization that can help spread information on how to protect ourselves and others from Ebola is very important to us. "