Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro has warned countries that
the current financial crisis, which is impacting all economies and
exacerbating the suffering of millions, is also threatening the
efforts to slash poverty, hunger, disease and other socio-economic
ills by 2015, known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
"The financial crisis only exacerbates the hardship already being
caused by higher prices of food and energy, especially in low-income
countries, fomenting social and political unease," Ms. Migiro
<"http://www.un.org/apps/dsg/dsgstats.asp?nid=131">told the General
Assembly's Second Committee, which deals with economic and financial
matters.
"Despite the recent announcement by the World Bank that considerable
progress has been made in reducing poverty and hunger, our work to
achieve the Millennium Development Goals is clearly at risk," she
cautioned.
Ms. Migiro told delegates that they were meeting at a time of
financial turmoil, and that urgent action was needed to avert a
recession, including through stimulus packages and measures to
stabilize financial and foreign exchange markets.
In the midst of the current financial woes, "achieving the MDGs by
2015 continues to be our major development challenge," the Deputy
Secretary-General stated. Although the progress made so far towards
the Goals has been uneven, it is still possible to achieve them by the
target date, she added.
Noting that Africa remains the region with the greatest challenges
ahead, particularly against the backdrop of much higher food and
energy prices and climate change, she called for increasing and better
coordinating aid, reducing agricultural subsidies in developed
countries, and investing more in infrastructure.
"Let's make sure the financial crisis does not divert our efforts,"
she appealed to Member States. "If we are to take away any lesson from
the multiple crises we face, it is that delaying action only makes
matters worse."
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