The Ebola Outbreak in Liberia: Young People’s Needs in the West Point Slum

The deadly Ebola virus has claimed more than 2,400 lives throughout five affected West African countries. More than half of Ebola-related deaths have been in Liberia.

The West Point community in the capital Monrovia is the most densely-populated slum in Liberia. Despite a lack of official statistics to show how many cases of Ebola have been detected in West Point, the area has been identified by the Liberian government as high-risk. As a result, its extremely poor population of more than 75,000 have faced harsh anti-Ebola measures that have damaged their livelihoods, health and access to food and water. In September 2014 Y Care International (YCI) and the YMCA of Liberia surveyed young people living in West Point to gather a clear picture of their situation. This report presents the findings of the needs assessment, and makes recommendations about how aid agencies and governments can respond.