The World Bank would assist countries hosting refugees to take care of them, Madam Sara Cliffe, Director of World Bank’s 2011 World Development Report, said in Accra on Thursday. Answering questions during a video press conference from Washington DC, she said exodus of refugees into countries had some negative effects on the GDP, which needed the concerted efforts of all and sundry to help address. The video press conference connected to about 21 African countries was a prelude to the launching of the World Bank’s 2011 World Development Report scheduled for Monday, April 11. Madam Cliffe was answering a question from Ghana as to measures being instituted by the Bank to help refugees especially from Cote d’Ivoire to Ghana, which would have a negative impact on the country’s economy. She said the World Bank had always been interested in supporting areas of development in most parts of the world where people were displaced by disasters and epidemics. However, Madam Cliffe did not mention any specific amount that the Bank had set aside for such assistance. Source: GNA