Report on UN response to the outbreak of Ebola in Sierra Leone from 2014 to 2016

This study critically examines the United Nations’ response to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Sierra Leone from 2014 to 2016, which recorded over 14,000 cases and nearly 4,000 deaths. It explores the roles of key UN agencies, including WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, and UNMEER, in managing the crisis, and evaluates their interventions against humanitarian principles and the Sphere Project standards. While the UN’s actions ultimately contributed to Sierra Leone being declared Ebola-free, gaps in coordination, compliance with Sphere standards, and community engagement highlighted systemic weaknesses. The paper contributes to the fields of humanitarian response and global health governance by offering lessons for improving preparedness and strengthening health systems in the face of future communicable disease outbreaks.