An increase in development aid since 2002 has raised health and
education standards and hastened gender equality among the world's
poorest nations, but overall poverty conditions are not improving,
a new United Nations report said Monday.
The 2006 annual progress report of UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan on the implementation of the Program of Action for the Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) said that domestic reforms and a revival
of commodity prices have underpinned strong economic growth in many
of those States. A number of them also benefited from a steep rise
in oil prices.
But despite signs of progress, extreme poverty has deepened, and
overall social indicators remain cause for concern, the report
warned.
Chronic poverty continues to be aggravated by diseases such as
HIV/AIDS and by environmental degradation, said the report, which
Annan submitted to the Economic and Social Council.
In addition, the positive impact of growth in many cases is
mitigated by high birth rates and an unequal distribution of
resources. Climate change is already taking a toll on many
low-lying or island LDCs, and is likely to pose a growing challenge
to development in upcoming years, the report noted.
Of the 50 LDCs, of which 34 are in sub-Saharan Africa, 15 in
Asia and the Pacific and one -- Haiti -- in the Western hemisphere,
more than half recorded average annual growth rates of 4 percent or
better during 2000-2004, according to the report.
Foreign direct investment has generally been on the rise in
these countries in general, it added.
(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2006)
