The Korea Times
WASHINGTON — The International Monetary Fund expects at least a dozen countries to seek new loan programs to cope with surging energy prices and supply chain disruptions caused by the Middle East war, with several sub-Saharan African nations seeking help, the head of the global crisis lender said on Wednesday. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva also warned of deepening supply disruptions from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz even if the conflict ends quickly and urged countries to take measures to reduce their fuel usage. Speaking at a press conference during the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, Georgieva repeated her estimate that disruptions from the war could trigger new demand for $20 billion to $50 billion in financial support that could include new loans and augmentation of some of the global lender's 39 existing country financing programs. She did not name specific countries that have requested aid, although she said the IMF was not currently discussing an augmentation of Egypt's $8 billion loan program despite the war's impact on its economy. IMF str
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