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Ban Ki-moon has launched another urgent appeal for funds to help fight Ebola after a United Nations drive for donations fell short of its target, the BBC reported.

The UN chief said a $1bn trust fund he launched in September has received just $100,000 (£62,000) so far.

He joins a growing chorus of world leaders criticising the global effort to tackle the Ebola outbreak.

The disease has killed about 4,500 people so far, mostly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Although several countries across the world have pledged to support the struggle to contain Ebola, few have matched their pledges with donations.

Donors have given almost $400m (£250m) to other UN agencies and aid organisations but the trust fund itself has received pledges of just $20m (£12m) and only Colombia has paid up so far.

The UN special envoy on Ebola, David Nabarro, said the fund was intended to offer "flexibility in responding to a crisis which every day brings new challenges."

"It allows the areas of greatest need to be identified and funds to be directed accordingly," he added.