Israel's War Brings Disaster to the Middle East, IMF Shouts!
- The war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group has had a negative impact on the economies of neighboring Middle Eastern countries. This news was conveyed by the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva.
"Look at neighboring countries - Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan - where the impact is already visible," said Georgieva at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (24/10/2023), as quoted by AFP.
Georgieva said there are Middle Eastern countries that depend on tourism, so the current uncertainty is "killing" the influx of tourists. He also explained the potential economic losses for countries in the region before mentioning the specific risks.
"Investors will be embarrassed to go to those places. Insurance costs, if you want to move goods, the costs will increase. The risk of more refugees in countries that are already accepting more refugees," he said.
Georgieva spoke one day after Wall Street titans told the forum that war could deal a heavy blow to the global economy, especially if it involves other countries. World Bank President Ajay Banga told an investor conference in Saudi Arabia earlier that the war between Israel and Hamas dealt a "serious" blow to global economic development. "What just happened in Israel and Gaza - ultimately if you put all this together, I think the impact on economic development is even more serious," said Banga, as quoted by AFP. "I think we are at a very dangerous moment," he added.
The Hamas group previously launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people and, according to Israeli authorities, taking 222 hostages. Israel responded with deadly airstrikes and a near-total land, sea and air blockade of Gaza, where the Hamas-run health ministry says 5,791 people have been killed in the war so far.
Perang Israel Bawa Malapetaka di Timur Tengah, IMF Teriak!
- Perang antara Israel dan kelompok Hamas dari Palestina telah berimbas buruk pada perekonomian negara-negara tetangga Timur Tengah. Kabar ini disampaikan oleh direktur pelaksana Dana Moneter Internasional (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva.
"Lihatlah negara-negara tetangga - Mesir, Lebanon, Yordania - yang dampaknya sudah terlihat," kata Georgieva di forum Future Investment Initiative (FII) di Riyadh, Arab Saudi pada Rabu (24/10/2023), seperti dikutip AFP.
Georgieva mengatakan ada negara-negara Timur Tengah yang bergantung pada pariwisata, sehingga ketidakpastian yang terjadi saat ini "membunuh" arus masuk wisatawan. Ia juga menjelaskan potensi kerugian ekonomi bagi negara-negara di kawasan ini sebelum menyebutkan risiko spesifiknya.
"Investor akan malu untuk pergi ke tempat itu. Biaya asuransi, jika Anda ingin memindahkan barang, biayanya akan meningkat. Risiko lebih banyak pengungsi di negara-negara yang sudah menerima lebih banyak pengungsi," katanya.
Georgieva berbicara satu hari setelah para raksasa Wall Street mengatakan kepada forum tersebut bahwa perang dapat memberikan pukulan berat terhadap perekonomian global, terutama jika perang tersebut melibatkan negara lain.
Presiden Bank Dunia Ajay Banga dalam konferensi investor di Arab Saudi sebelumnya mengatakan perang antara Israel dan Hamas memberikan pukulan "serius" terhadap pembangunan ekonomi global.
"Apa yang baru saja terjadi di Israel dan Gaza - pada akhirnya jika Anda menggabungkan semua ini, saya pikir dampaknya terhadap pembangunan ekonomi bahkan lebih serius," kata Banga, seperti dikutip AFP.
"Saya pikir kita berada pada saat yang sangat berbahaya," tambahnya.
Kelompok Hamas sebelumnya melancarkan serangan mendadak terhadap Israel pada 7 Oktober, menewaskan lebih dari 1.400 orang dan, menurut pihak berwenang Israel, menyandera 222 orang.
Israel membalasnya dengan serangan udara yang mematikan dan blokade darat, laut dan udara yang hampir total di Gaza, di mana kementerian kesehatan yang dikelola Hamas mengatakan 5.791 orang telah tewas dalam perang sejauh ini.