The GCC has supplanted rich western countries and international financial institutions such as the World Bank and IMF to become the key source of official financial assistance to the MENA region’s oil importing countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Tunisia.

The GCC’s share of assistance shot up from from 5.5% in 2010 to 50% in 2013, the IMF says in a report released this week. (CONTINUED - 307 WORDS)