The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has strengthened or will strengthen its aid programs to four African countries to support them in dealing with the consequences of the war in the Middle East, the institution's director of communications, Julie Kozack, said on Thursday.

At a press conference, the head of the Fund specified that this aid would take the form of additional payments or an acceleration of deadlines and concerned Ethiopia, Gambia and Burkina Faso, while discussions in favor of an aid program to Malawi have accelerated.

The conflict in the Middle East, which began in late February with a series of attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, has led to a strong response from Tehran against the oil infrastructure of its neighbors and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which normally about one-fifth of the world's hydrocarbons pass.

This led to a sharp rise in oil prices, impacting the entire supply chain. At the same time, fertilizer prices and availability also suffered as a result of the conflict.

During the spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in mid-April, the Fund's managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, stressed that the institution stood ready to help countries that requested it.

She had then estimated that between $20 billion and $50 billion in funds would be potentially needed to meet the demands, depending on the extent of the war's effects and its duration.

According to Ms. Kozack, the economic effects of the war, including higher commodity prices, are beginning to show in macroeconomic data.

The IMF is due to publish in July the updated version of its annual World Economic Outlook (WEO), which incorporates growth estimates for the current year and 2027.

"There are indications that the shock is fueling inflation, and short-term expectations are rising," stressed Julie Kozack, who specified that the impact would vary depending on the country.

“Not all countries benefit from the strong technological investments; some are affected more than others. We are particularly concerned about vulnerable energy-importing countries,” she explained.