The United Nations Security Council was founded in 1945 with the goal of maintaining international peace and security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations. Its membership consists of five permanent member states as well as ten non-permanent members selected from a group of existing United Nations member states. It possesses the ability to determine the extent to which issues of international security impact global peace as well as recommend what actions should be taken, ultimately seeking to resolve global conflicts through diplomatic and peaceful means. Following the outbreak of Ebola in several countries in West Africa in late 2013 and the spread of disease in the early months of 2014, it is up to the United Nations Security Council to use its role as the world’s premier authority on international security to determine an appropriate response to the growing epidemic.

For WMHSMUN XL, the United Nations Security Council will be an advanced hybrid committee. One half of the committee will be modeled after a general assembly and the other half will be modeled after a crisis committee; both the general assembly and crisis aspects of the committee will be fast-paced and delegates will have the opportunity to participate in a complex, interactive simulation of international affairs throughout conference weekend.

Topic 1: Controlling the Initial Spread of Ebola

It is May 27th, 2014, and an outbreak of the Ebola virus has occurred in three West African countries: Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The outbreak has caused over three hundred cases in Guinea alone, with over two thirds of cases resulting in the mortality of the individuals affected. While still somewhat limited in scale, the pathogen causing the virus is highly infectious and has the potential to cause a larger outbreak across the region as well as cause major public health consequences for the three currently affected countries. Domestic public health officials and non-governmental organizations have also faced violence as a result of their response to the outbreak. Furthermore, logistical challenges in rural regions have complicated efforts to monitor affected individuals such as contact tracing and quarantining. As cases continue to rise and fears of a broader international emergency grow, it is up to the UN Security Council to determine the most effective means of limiting the spread of the Ebola virus while also promoting public understanding of disease control measures and establishing protections for healthcare workers and public health officials.

Topic Two: Developing healthcare infrastructure in West Africa

The rapid spreadability of the Ebola virus has been heightened in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone due to healthcare infrastructure weaknesses. Consisting of qualified healthcare workers, drug supply systems, and all other resources intended for health systems and illness prevention, healthcare infrastructure is a critical concern of the Ebola outbreak and general resilience in West Africa. With healthcare systems overwhelmed by Ebola cases, further Ebola spread becomes more likely, and other illnesses and medical needs will be tossed to the side. In response, many are traveling to neighboring countries for treatment, and putting others at risk of their ailments. It is the job of the UN Security Council to aid in the development and strengthening of healthcare infrastructure in West Africa. Thus the Council faces two questions in one: how can the healthcare infrastructure be strengthened to address the immediate threat and how can these efforts be maintained for the future to avoid another major disease outbreak?