World Bank gives Palestinian Authority new grant to fight COVID-19
The global financial institution has already provided the PA with funding amid concerns about testing capacity in the West Bank and Gaza.
The World Bank has set aside a new grant of more than $3 million for the Palestinian Authority to fight COVID-19.
The bank’s West Bank and Gaza director Kanthan Shankar said in a press release, “Due to low capacity of testing in the Palestinian territories, the number of COVID-19 cases are underestimated. Still, the numbers of new infections reported daily continue to reach new highs.”
The DC-based global financial institution allocated a $3.75 million grant to support the PA’s response to the coronavirus. The funds will come from a trust fund administered by the World Bank that provides “rapid financing” to countries to mitigate the effects of virus on their populations.
The funds will specifically go toward medicine for treating “health emergencies” and “chronic conditions.” It will also be used to purchase medical equipment including defibrillators, stretchers, beds, mobile blood banks, ultrasound machines, generators and more, according to the World Bank statement.
