The World Bank has given Tanzania $136 million for AIDS and poverty reduction projects, said Rosalie Ferrao, a bank spokesperson. About half of the money, $70 million, will be used in the fight against AIDS and the balance will be spent on reducing poverty. "The bank has earmarked these resources with a clear sense of urgency needed to deal with the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS, and to do so in innovative ways particularly targeted to support community-based interventions," the bank said in a statement. Tanzania owes the World Bank $2.6 billion in loans. Tanzania's central bank says the country's total external debt is $6.56 billion. In November last year, the International Monetary Fund approved debt relief in the amount of $3.3 billion for Tanzania to be spread over 20 years.

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