Christ Yoder
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The World Bank on Thursday approved $ 1 billion in emergency funding for India to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed 76 people and infected 2,500 others in the country.
The World Bank’s first round of $ 1.9 billion aid projects will help 25 countries, and new operations are underway in more than 40 countries using the fast-track process, the Bank said. Bank.
Most of the emergency financial aid went to India – $ 1 billion.
“In India, $ 1 billion in emergency funding will support better screening, contact tracing and laboratory diagnostics; purchase personal protective equipment; and set up new isolation rooms,” he said. the World Bank said after its board of directors approved the first round of emergency support. operations for developing countries around the world, using a dedicated and accelerated facility for the COVID-19 response.
In South Asia, the World Bank has also approved $ 200 million for Pakistan, $ 100 million for Afghanistan, $ 7.3 million for the Maldives and $ 128.6 million for Sri Lanka.
READ ALSO : Coronavirus LIVE: World Bank promises $ 160 billion in aid as cases surpass one million
The World Bank said it is now working to provide up to $ 160 billion over the next 15 months to support pandemic response measures that will focus on immediate health consequences and strengthen economic recovery.
The broader economic agenda will aim to shorten the recovery time, create the conditions for growth, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and help protect the poor and vulnerable.
These operations will have a strong poverty focus, with an emphasis on policy-based financing and protection of the poorest households and the environment, he said.
“The World Bank Group is taking broad and swift action to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and we already have health response operations underway in more than 65 countries,” said the President of the World Bank Group, David Malpass.
“We are working to strengthen (the) capacity of developing countries to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and shorten the time frame for economic and social recovery. The poorest and most vulnerable countries will likely be the hardest hit, and our teams around the world remain focused on national and regional solutions to deal with the current crisis, ”said Malpass.
READ ALSO : India braces for rapid virus scan as rising hotspots sound alarm bells
According to the bank, $ 100 million will help Afghanistan slow and limit the spread of COVID-19 through improved detection, surveillance and laboratory systems, as well as strengthen the delivery of essential health care and intensive care.
In Pakistan, $ 200 million will support emergency preparedness and response in the health sector and include social protection and education measures to help the poor and vulnerable cope with the immediate impacts of the pandemic, the bank said.
In response to widespread supply chain disruptions, the World Bank is helping countries access critically needed medical supplies by reaching out to suppliers on behalf of governments.
The World Bank encourages others to provide financial support to developing countries for the health response to COVID-19, the press release said.
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