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World Bank in South Asia
Courtesy: The World Bank
Bangladesh
WORLD BANK SUPPORTS THE HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND POPULATION SECTOR IN
BANGLADESH
The World Bank approved a US$300 million credit to assist the Government of
Bangladesh improve access to and the quality of its healthcare system. This
project aims to strengthen public health sector management, improve service
delivery, and develop health awareness campaigns, especially targeting the
poorest households.
While Bangladesh’s health indicators have improved significantly over the
past decade, the country now faces the threat of an increase in
non-communicable diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In
addition, communicable
diseases such as respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases, malaria,
and
tuberculosis remain prevalent, while HIV/AIDS rates are rising. An
increasing
incidence of injuries resulting from accidents has necessitated the need for
free emergency services to the underprivileged. The gap in health services
provided to rich and poor people remains large.
India
World Bank Supports Emergency Reconstruction in Tsunami-Hit Areas
World Bank credit will finance housing reconstruction and restoration of
livelihoods in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry
India received US$465 million credit from the World Bank for reconstruction
and recovery efforts in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, areas that were
particularly hard hit by the Asian tsunami of December 2004. This is part of
total Bank support of US$528.5 million for
tsunami recovery operations in India.
The Emergency Tsunami Reconstruction Project is expected to help repair or
reconstruct about 140,000 damaged houses in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry and
will
assist with the reconstruction of public buildings, revival of livelihoods
in fisheries and agriculture, as well as with capacity building in housing
reconstruction and coastal management. More importantly, the project takes
into account the government’s commitment not to rebuild vulnerabilities.
The tsunami of December 26, 2004, resulting from an earthquake which
measured
9.0 on the Richter scale, caused severe damage to coastal areas of several
countries including India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Maldives.
In India, it caused extensive damage in the offshore Union Territory (UT) of
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and along a 2,260 km stretch of the mainland
coastline in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and UT of Pondicherry. An
estimated 2.7 million people were affected by the disaster. Most were
engaged in fisheries (80 percent), while the remainder worked in agriculture
(15 percent), and small- and micro-enterprises (5 percent). The disaster has
most adversely affected the livelihoods of those who were already poor and
accentuated the vulnerability of coastal communities.
The Government of India is directly funding the recovery effort in the
Andaman
and Nicobar Islands.
Indo-Pak
World Bank Names Neutral Expert on Baglihar
The World Bank announced that, after consultation with the Governments of
India and Pakistan, an agreement has been reached on the appointment of a
Neutral Expert to address differences concerning a hydropower scheme under
construction on the Chenab River in India.
Professor Raymond Lafitte, a Swiss national, civil engineer and professor at
the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, will be asked to make
a finding on a "difference" between the two governments concerning the
construction of the Baglihar project.
The Chenab River is one of the rivers comprising the Indus river system.
After the Partition of the sub-continent, the Indus Waters Treaty was
concluded with support from the World Bank. The Treaty divided the river
systems between the two countries. The Bank is a signatory to the Treaty and
earlier this year was approached by Pakistan to appoint a Neutral Expert to
deal with a "difference" that had arisen between the two countries.
Both India and Pakistan have found Professor Lafitte suitably qualified as a
Neutral Expert. His findings will be made known in time. Under the terms of
the Indus Waters Treaty, his determination will be final and binding.
The Indus Waters Treaty was concluded by India and Pakistan on September 19,
1960. The World Bank is a signatory to the Treaty for certain specified
purposes. It is not a guarantor of the Treaty. Many of the purposes for
which the World Bank signed the Treaty have been completed. There are now
three remaining responsibilities for the World Bank under the Treaty,
relating to the settlement of 'differences' and 'disputes'.
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