Ukraine war fuels 'overlapping crises' — Malpass

WASHINGTON — The Russian war on Ukraine has set off a chain reaction in the global economy, pushing energy and food prices higher, exacerbating debt concerns and potentially worsening poverty and hunger, World Bank (WB) President David Malpass said on Tuesday.

Faced with these "overlapping crises", the leader of the development lender urged advanced nations to keep markets open, removing trade barriers and reversing policies that concentrate wealth.

The war came as the global economy was trying to right itself following the COVID-19 pandemic, while navigating supply chain snarls that created shortages and a surge in inflation that has sparked unrest in some countries. 

New lockdowns in China have added further uncertainty to the recovery.

"Never have so many countries experienced a recession at once, suffering lost capital, jobs, and livelihoods. At the same time, inflation continues to accelerate," Malpass said during an event at the Warsaw School of Economics.

Beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis caused by the war, "Supply constraints and disruptions have fueled price increases and worsened inequality around the globe."

Ukraine is a key source of grain while Russia is a major producer of energy and fertiliser needed for agriculture, and the war is "creating sudden shortages of energy, fertiliser and food, pitting people against each other and their governments", Malpass said.

An "intense drought" in South America is making the food situation worse, he added.

"For every one percentage point increase in food prices, 10 million people are expected to fall into extreme poverty," he said, noting, "Malnutrition is expected to grow."

Debt crisis 

The World Bank on Sunday issued a grim outlook for Ukraine, projecting the economy would collapse.

But Malpass said countries far beyond the region are feeling the conflict's pain.

Protestors in Peru have taken to the streets to demand government action, as did people in Sri Lanka, where the government on Tuesday announced it was defaulting on its $51 billion in foreign debt.

Malpass has been sounding the warning about the growing debt burden in developing countries, and said the total "has risen sharply to a 50-year high". 

"Most emerging market and developing economies are ill-prepared to face the coming debt shock," he warned.

The World Bank chief called on advanced countries to keep their markets open to help those countries.

"Most of the trade barriers protect the privileged at the expense of the rest of society, worsening inequality," he said.

Policies such as quotas on sugar imports, subsidies for corn production or domestic content requirements "cause asymmetrical damage to the poor".

Rebuilding Ukraine 

He also noted that "rapid addition of major new energy production in other parts of the world will be a necessary ingredient for global recovery and energy security in Europe".

Speaking ahead of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's annual meetings next week, Malpass pledged to help Ukraine rebuild following the war.

The two global lenders have quickly rolled out aid for the country, and Malpass said the bank has secured donor support for $1 billion in funding under the concessional lending arm as part of a $3 billion package, as well as $100 million for Moldova, which the board will now consider.

That is part of facility to help Kyiv keep critical services running, including paying wages for hospital workers and pensions, he said.

Malpass also praised Poland for welcoming the flood of refugees that has driven four million fleeing into neighbouring countries.