Mena countries are entitled to a combined $45bn from the IMF’s latest general Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation, according to MEES analysis of the data. A large chunk of this is allocated to wealthy Gulf countries who have no more need of the support than the IMF’s developed members. But for many economically challenged Mena states, the IMF’s SDR allocation provides a crucial economic lifeline.

An SDR is “an interest-bearing international reserve asset created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement other reserve assets of member countries.” (CONTINUED - 1071 WORDS)