(World Bank, IMF sa creditors) DEBT RELIEF SA MAHIHIRAP NA BANSA

ISTANBUL – Hinimok ng World Bank Group (WBG) at ng International Monetary Fund (IMF) ang mga creditor na suspendihin ang pagbabayad ng utang ng pinakamahihirap na bansa sa mundo sa harap ng coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Sa isang joint statement sa bisperas ng G20 virtual summit sa COVID-19, sinabi ng World Bank at ng IMF na ang global crisis ay magdudulot ng matinding  epekto sa ekonomiya at lipunan sa International Development Association (IDA) countries.

“IDA countries, [are] home to a quarter of the world’s population and two-thirds of the world’s population living in extreme poverty,” nakasaad sa statement.

Ayon sa website ng asosasyon, ang IDA countries, na kasalukuyang nasa 76 ang bilang, ay may gross national income per capita under USD1,175 noong 2020.

“This [suspension of debt payments] will help with IDA countries’ immediate liquidity needs to tackle challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak and allow time for an assessment of the crisis impact and financing needs for each country,” sabi pa sa statement.

“We invite G20 leaders to task the WBG and the IMF to make these assessments, including identifying the countries with unsustainable debt situations, and to prepare a proposal for comprehensive action by official bilateral creditors to address both the financing and debt relief needs of IDA countries,” dagdag pa nito.

Ang mga lider ng G20 countries ay magsasagawa ng virtual meeting sa  COVID-19 pandemic sa Huwebes, sa pangunguna ni Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.