KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The World Bank has suspended funding for a tourism project in Tanzania that caused the suffering of tens of thousands of villagers, according to a U.S.-based rights group that has long urged the global lender to take such action.
The World Bank’s decision to suspend the $150 million project, which aims to improve the management of natural resources and tourism assets in a remote part of southern Tanzanian, was “long overdue,” the Oakland Institute said in a statement Tuesday, charging that the bank’s “failure to take immediate action resulted in serious harms for the local communities.”
At least $100 million has already been disbursed for the project, which started in 2017. The suspension of World Bank financing took effect April 18.
The Oakland Institute, a California-based rights watchdog whose work focuses on marginalized communities, for years led calls for the World Bank to stop funding the project known by the acronym REGROW, documenting serious rights abuses suffered by Indigenous communities in the area.
Biden will send Ukraine air defense weapons, artillery once Senate approves, Zelenskyy says
Xi takes part in deliberation at annual national legislative session
China to start second round of shuttle diplomacy on Ukraine crisis
CPC issues revised regulations on disciplinary inspections
Procuratorates advance public interest litigation
Xi replies to letter from counter
Spirit of the Silk Road lives on in Xi'an
PSG can clinch another league title if it wins at Lorient and Monaco does not beat Lille