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The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the largest multilateral source of assistance and debt relief for Haiti,Authentic Bojan Bogdanovic Nets Jersey, is considering a mechanism for the further alleviation of Haiti’s $441 million debt to the IDB in the wake of the destruction caused by the Jan. 12 earthquake.Last year the IDB provided Haiti with $511 million in debt relief as part of an international agreement that included other multilateral lenders. This relief covered all of Haiti’s outstanding debt to the IDB at the end of 2004.Total debt relief the IDB granted to Haiti and other eligible countries by 2009 amounted to $4.4 billion, which was funded with resources from the Bank’s concessional window – the Fund for Special Operations. Since 2007, the IDB has provided only grants to Haiti,Marvin Williams Hornets Jersey, totaling $222 million. Haiti is the only country that enjoys grant-only status at the IDB.Between 2004 and 2009,Paul Millsap Hawks Jersey, the IDB continued to finance projects in Haiti using the undisbursed balance of loans approved before 2004,Enes Kanter Thunder Swingman Jersey, and of new loans approved in 2005 and 2006. These disbursements led to the accumulation of its current outstanding debt of $441 million.Nonetheless,Isaiah Thomas Celtics Swingman Jersey, Haiti’s approximately $10 million in annual debt service payments to the IDB from 2009 through 2011 are covered by resources from a US-supported fund. Thus,Kevin Durant USA Jersey, Haiti’s debt to the IDB is not causing any outflow of funds from the country nor adversely affecting its ability to confront its emergency.The IDB has provided financial and technical assistance to Haiti for 50 years in vital areas such as infrastructure,David Robinson USA Jersey, water and sanitation and agriculture. The Bank,Nicolas Batum Hornets Swingman Jersey, working through its staff on the ground in Port-au-Prince,Authentic Tobias Harris Pistons Jersey, is coordinating closely with the international community and the Haitian government to assist the Haitian people in their time of need. |
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