World Bank Plans to Mobilize Billions to Aid War-Affected Nations, Exceeding Pandemic Response
World Bank President Ajay Banga announced plans to mobilize $80 billion to $100 billion over the next 15 months to assist countries severely impacted by the Middle East war, surpassing the $70 billion provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will be sourced through a 'crisis response window' and by reallocating existing program funds. The IMF has also lowered global growth forecasts, reflecting the war's significant economic impact.
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- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 12:19
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Washington, April 14, comprehensive foreign report) World Bank President Ajay Banga said today that the World Bank may mobilize $80 billion to $100 billion in funds within the next 15 months to assist countries severely affected by the Middle East war, a figure that exceeds the $70 billion it provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Banga pointed out that this funding will include $20 billion to $25 billion provided through a "crisis response window" in the coming months, a mechanism that allows countries to withdraw up to 10% of funds from previously approved programs early; another approximately $30 billion to $40 billion may be raised within about 6 months by adjusting the use of existing programs.
Banga made these comments on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings. This reflects a growing recognition that the war has had a huge impact on global growth and inflation, and developing countries may be the hardest hit.
Due to the war-induced surge in energy prices, the IMF today lowered its global growth forecast and presented a series of forecast scenarios, all of which include lower growth and higher inflation. The IMF stated that if it were not for this conflict, it would have raised its growth forecast by 0.1 percentage point to 3.4%.
Banga said at an event hosted by the Bretton Woods Committee that if the war prolongs and funding needs expand, the World Bank will need to use its balance sheet and financing space to raise more funds, bringing the total to $80 billion to $100 billion, which will be additional resources beyond existing loans.
He said: "I am trying to build a toolkit with tiered response capabilities, depending on how the situation develops, to at least be able to put in enough firepower to act." (Compiler: Cheng Shih-yun) 1150415
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(Central News Agency, Washington, April 14, comprehensive foreign report) World Bank President Ajay Banga said today that the World Bank may mobilize $80 billion to $100 billion in funds within the next 15 months to assist countries severely affected by the Middle East war, a figure that exceeds the $70 billion it provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Banga pointed out that this funding will include $20 billion to $25 billion provided through a "crisis response window" in the coming months, a mechanism that allows countries to withdraw up to 10% of funds from previously approved programs early; another approximately $30 billion to $40 billion may be raised within about 6 months by adjusting the use of existing programs.
Banga made these comments on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings. This reflects a growing recognition that the war has had a huge impact on global growth and inflation, and developing countries may be the hardest hit.
Due to the war-induced surge in energy prices, the IMF today lowered its global growth forecast and presented a series of forecast scenarios, all of which include lower growth and higher inflation. The IMF stated that if it were not for this conflict, it would have raised its growth forecast by 0.1 percentage point to 3.4%.
Banga said at an event hosted by the Bretton Woods Committee that if the war prolongs and funding needs expand, the World Bank will need to use its balance sheet and financing space to raise more funds, bringing the total to $80 billion to $100 billion, which will be additional resources beyond existing loans.
He said: "I am trying to build a toolkit with tiered response capabilities, depending on how the situation develops, to at least be able to put in enough firepower to act." (Compiler: Cheng Shih-yun) 1150415
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
Keywords: None