The goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030 cannot be achieved without addressing fragility, conflict, and violence. Last week, a conference in Paris looked at a related issue – the need to eliminate terrorism financing. World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim explains why it’s critical to combat this problem.
Last week, President Emmanuel Macron of France brought ministers and experts together to discuss a pressing global issue – the financing of terrorism. Some 1,300 terrorist attacks claimed 8,300 lives last year. But besides this human toll, terrorism takes an equally tragic economic toll. Two billion people live in areas affected by fragility, conflict and violence. They are more than twice as likely to be undernourished, more than three times as likely to be unable to send their children to school, and more than twice as likely to lack access to clean water. The bottom line is we have absolutely no chance to end poverty without addressing fragility, conflict, and violence – and combating terrorist financing is a critical part of that effort. I thanked President Macron for his leadership and support for global cooperation. Countries must work together to extinguish the channels for terrorism financing and to build institutions that generate growth and create inclusive societies..
