The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced on Thursday its intention to deploy five billion euros by 2026 in countries and territories affected by the war in the Middle East, primarily Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza. "The economic and social impact of the conflict is already being felt" in many economies, the institution said in a statement, citing "disruptions to trade routes, energy and commodity shocks, a weakening of investor confidence, and broader costs for the population". Founded in 1991 to help countries of the former Soviet bloc transition to a market economy, the EBRD has since expanded its scope to include countries in the Middle East, as well as Central Asia, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. The institution will also support "a first group of affected neighboring countries", including Egypt, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. It also says it is ready to help "all other economies in its countries of operation affected by ...