The Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank commenced in Washington on April 14, local time. During a press conference, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva stated that the situation in the Middle East is disrupting supply chains and driving up prices, inflicting significant economic damage worldwide. She also revealed that the IMF anticipates the recent demand for its financial support to be between $20 billion and $50 billion.