UNITED NATIONS—June 3, 2005—World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz met today with former US President Bill Clinton, Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, and other key stakeholders in the effort to rebuild countries hit by the Tsunami.
Wolfowitz said it is very important that someone of Mr. Clinton's stature has taken the lead role in trying to ensure sustainable results are delivered to the people of the affected regions. Clinton, he said, can help to break the logjam that appears to have developed among donor agencies and institutions to guarantee assistance gets to Tsunami survivors.
The global community, Wolfowitz said, did very well in its initial response to the disaster and prevented additional loss of life from disease and starvation, but he cautions much work still needs to be done in turning generous donations into lasting humanitarian results.
The Bank Group president believes there are big challenges ahead in coordinating the rebuilding effort and in guaranteeing the huge amount of money pledged gets to the people who need it. Wolfowitz says the World Bank wants to be helpful and will not bog down the process by insisting on being the lead agency. “We will be in the lead when we should be or a supporting role when that makes more sense.”
Paul Wolfowitz, who became World Bank President on June 1st, feels it is very important the world community makes good on the incredible generosity that followed the Tsunami. He says it is important to deliver results because of the scale of human suffering and “if we don't make good on it, people won't be so generous in the future.”
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