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Press
Release..............................
UNESCAP News Services
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Date 25 February 2004
Media Alert No: N/03/2004
UNESCAP, UN-HABITAT sign agreement to jointly
tackle urban poverty in region
UN calls for better coordination to prevent
rising numbers of urban poor
Bangkok (UN Information Services) - UNESCAP and
UN-HABITAT will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
Thursday, 26 February 2004 in a bid to ensure the two organizations
work more effectively towards reducing urban poverty.
UNESCAP Executive Secretary, Mr. Kim Hak-Su, and
Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, will
sign the MoU. The agreement signifies a commitment to closer
cooperation between the UN agencies in an effort to create greater
impact in improving the living conditions for the urban poor
in the Asia-Pacific region.
"The collaboration is imperative for the
UN to effectively meet the Millennium Development Goals, including
the challenge of approximately 800 million people still living
in poverty Asia and the Pacific," said Mr. Kim.
"One out of every two slum-dwellers in the
world lives in Asia. The proportion of urban poor will increase
unless responses are strengthened in both urban and rural areas."
"This agreement will ensure better coordination
of national, rural and urban development strategies in order
to minimize migration," said Ms. Tibajuka. "The collaboration
will enable governments, local authorities, non-governmental
organizations and all other Habitat Agenda partners to work
jointly to upgrade slums and provide the urban poor with decent
shelter, clean water and adequate sanitation."
Joint projects between UNESCAP and UN-HABITAT
are already planned for 2004, including a Special Body on Pacific
Island Developing Countries to be held in Shanghai, China, in
April before UNESCAP's 60th Commission Session.
A Global Rural-Urban Linkages Conference is also
scheduled for later this year, as well as the Fourth Asia-Pacific
Urban Forum in 2005, focusing on localized implementation of
the Millennium Development Goals in Asia-Pacific cities and
towns.
The Bangkok-based United Nations Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) is the
regional arm of the UN Secretariat in Asia and the Pacific.
UN-HABITAT, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme headquartered
in Nairobi, Kenya, is the UN agency responsible for human settlements.
Note to Editors: You or your representatives are
cordially invited to attend the MoU signing from 13:30-14:30
hrs, Thursday, 26 February 2004, 15th Floor, UN Building, Rajadamnern
Nok Avenue, Bangkok.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Asa Jonsson, Poverty Reduction Section, UNESCAP
Tel: (+66-2) 288-1389, Fax: (+66-2) 288-1097, E-mail: jonsson.unescap@un.org
Mr. Sharad Shankardass, Spokesperson, UN-HABITAT
Nairobi: Tel: 254-2-623153; Mobile: 254 (0) 733 760332; Fax:
254-2-624060
Bangkok: Tel: (+66-1) 250-0821, E-mail: habitat.press@unhabitat.org
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