The World Bank is preparing to deploy a major financing package of up to $100 billion over the next 15 months to support countries most affected by the economic fallout of the war in the Middle East, in a move that could exceed the scale of its response during the COVID-19 crisis.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings held jointly with the International Monetary Fund, World Bank President Ajay Banga said the financing package will range between $80 billion and $100 billion, reflecting growing concern over the war's widening impact on global economic stability.
Banga revealed that an initial emergency tranche of between $20 billion and $25 billion will be made available in the near term through the Bank’s crisis response mechanisms. This facility allows countries to access funds earlier from already approved financing programs, enabling faster intervention.
An additional $30 billion to $40 billion could be mobilized within roughly six months by reallocating existing programs, further expanding the الدعم available to affected economies.
The initiative comes amid intensifying fears over the war's effects on the global economy, particularly through rising energy prices, persistent inflationary pressures, and slowing growth. Developing economies are expected to bear the brunt of these challenges, given their limited fiscal space and higher vulnerability to external shocks.
Recent assessments by the IMF have already pointed to a downgrade in global growth expectations, driven largely by higher energy costs and tighter financial conditions.
If fully implemented, the planned financing envelope would surpass the World Bank’s pandemic-era support efforts, signaling the severity of current geopolitical and economic risks.
The move underscores a broader international effort to cushion the economic impact of the conflict, as policymakers grapple with a complex mix of inflation, debt vulnerabilities, and weakening global demand.
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