World Bank Increases Aid

The World Bank will increase aid to developing nations.Aid may reach 35 billion dollars by the end of June,versus 13.5 billion last year.The bank is prepared to commit up to 100 billion over the next three years,as the financial crisis threatens to cut government revenue,reducing public spending on education and health care.The growth forecast for developing countries is a drop of 0.1 in 2009,versus a gain of 1.4 in 2008.Global trade may fall for the first time since 1982.A 10% drop in developing country growth means another 20 million people will live in poverty.In recent years,high food and fuel prices have driven about 100 million into the ranks of the poor.The World Bank,led by President Robert Zoellick,has received loan inquiries from countries in Asia and Latin America this year,and would not be surprised to loan to nations it hasn't heard from in some time,given the global downturn.