WASHINGTON, April 14 -- The World Bank could mobilize US$80 billion (RM225.5 billion) to US$100 billion (RM281.8 billion) in funding over the next 15 months for countries hit hard by the war in the Middle East, eclipsing the US$70 billion it provided during the COVID pandemic, the bank's president, Ajay Banga, said yesterday.

That would include US$20 billion to US$25 billion in coming months through a crisis response window that allows countries to withdraw up to 10 per cent of funds earlier than planned from previously approved programs, with another US$30 billion to US$40 billion that could come from repurposing existing programs in about six months, he said.

Banga's comments, on the sidelines of the spring meetings of the Internation...