G20 agrees to boost humanitarian support for poor countries

The G20 (the Group of Twenty) finance ministers agreed on April 16 in Washington on the need to strengthen financial and humanitarian support for poorer countries affected by the war in the Middle East.

The United States, which holds the G20 presidency this year, hosted the meeting on the sidelines of the spring sessions of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, Caliber.Az reports, citing Japanese media.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted risks facing vulnerable countries, including threats to food security amid potential fertiliser shortages and rising commodity prices.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva had earlier warned that the consequences of the conflict could deepen the global food crisis and increase the number of people facing hunger.

She also noted that Bessent presented the US position on the conflict with Iran and urged G20 countries to cooperate on sanctions policy.

Asked whether any finance leader explicitly criticised the United States over the war, she said no one did so.

Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said participants in the meeting, including central bank governors, reached a shared understanding on the necessity of such measures.

Global economic imbalances were also discussed.

Kato said the most vulnerable economies would be hit the hardest and stressed the need for a swift resolution of the situation.

A joint final statement was not issued following the talks.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov