Vatican City / Washington, DC: The IMF has announced that it will provide relief to poorer nations in the wake of Pope Francis’ urgent Easter Sunday message calling for easing debt for poorer nations suffering from Covid19. In addition, French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the world to consider the debt obligations of countries with financial difficulties. Pope Francis has proposed on Easter Day that the government should offer concessions to the most economically deprived countries, or write off the debt.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced Monday that it will release debts to 25 countries the next day after the pope’s call. This includes 19 African countries. Kristalina Georgieva, executive director of the International Monetary Fund, said the Coronavirus has given concessions to poorer countries and poorer countries for the next six months, allowing them to spend more on health and other areas. African countries such as the Central African Republic, Niger and Mozambique are the major concessions.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised message that debts could be written off in large numbers under special circumstances. He explained that if these debts were written off, those countries could focus on eradicating the coronavirus. The French prime minister added that no one can win the battle alone and that it is the duty of the people to cooperate and develop the community, as many people have lost their lives due to the same virus in different parts of the world.
Reuters reported on international media this week that the G20 and G7 countries are scheduled to discuss debts this week. In July 2000, Pope John Paul II called for the reduction of the debts of the poorest nations.
