In a message on the eve of ’World Habitat Day,’ Shaikh Khalifa said the United Nations and its affiliated bodies should be strengthened to ensure that its goals are achieved, particularly in the areas of housing, health, education, employment and social security. “There is an urgent need for the international community to pool resources to meet the needs of the people from poorer countries,” he said.
The prime minister warned that the financial turmoil facing the world could cast a shadow on UN’s Millennium Development goals since the slowing global economy and cash crunch could hamper the march towards achieving the goal.
Calling on the international community to remain steadfast in their commitment to development, Shaikh Khalifa said the world today was faced with major challenges and risks pertaining to financial stability, which will affect sustainable growth.
He also stressed on the need to implement the medium-term strategic plans developed by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements for the period 2008-2013, which among other things seeks to stop the growth of slums and slum prevention as a means of poverty reduction.
Stating that the Kingdom had realised the importance of careful planning to achieve balanced development, he said Bahrain had in place a structural strategy to carry on till 2030, which included optimum utilisation of available land for housing as well as other programmes like education, industry, health and green belt.
The prime minister said he looked forward to the Habitat Forum to be held in China in November, which would provide an opportunity to exchange views on urban realities.
