The world’s poorest countries could save more than US$12 billion owed to sovereign and other creditors this year through their participation in a debt-relief program.

This is based on estimates published on Friday in a new database from the World Bank.

The savings under the COVID-19-linked Debt Service Suspension Initiative will be short-term, since the initiative only provides for suspension of debt payments through the end of the year.

It postpones payments until a later date but does not cancel them outright.