The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) ordered their staff out of Iraq on Wednesday August 20, in response to the truck bombing that ripped through United Nations (UN) headquarters in Baghdad on Tuesday.
The international financial organizations asserted that the decision to withdraw their personnel was motivated by security concerns and will be temporary, reported AFP. Some 12 World Bank workers have been transferred to Amman, Jordan, while two others are being hospitalized in Kuwait. Four IMF staff were also moved to Amman and one employee remains in a Baghdad hospital.
The economic institutions have not released a date of return for its workers. World Bank staff will remain on task and continue assessing Iraq's needs for reconstruction from Amman said, World Bank spokesman Damian Milverton.
The World Bank is working with the UN to complete its needs assessment before the end of September, allowing potential financial contributors enough time to review the report before convening at a scheduled donor meeting to be held in Spain on October 23-24. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
