Arab region tries to move closer towards ending poverty

Arab countries are required to find solutions to tackle with poverty lines, says the Arab report on 2010 Millennium Development Goals

According to the third Arab report on the 2010 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the Impact of the Global Economic Crisis, Arab countries are on track towards fulfilling one of the program's primary goals – decreasing extreme rates of poverty and hunger.
The report was published at the Arab League on 14 December.
The report emphasizes that despite the decrease in extreme poverty and hunger rates, which dropped from 22 per cent in 2006 to 20 per cent in 2009, more effort is required for there to be progress in national poverty lines, where Arab countries have not significantly reduced the income poverty that is still quite prevalent in rural areas. “The report is a reference point to determine where we stand in terms of the MDGs, and it outlines the challenges and opportunities in order to achieve them,” said Egypt's Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Moselhi. “It also reveals the efforts which have been exerted to provide our citizens a good life within the framework of our abilities.”
The report stresses the fact that further efforts and resources are still required to assist the less developed countries within the region in challenging issues such as outlining poverty, unemployment, education quality, gender inequality and maternal health.
Also under review is the progress made by the Arab region towards achieving the MDGs since they were first introduced at the World Summit in 2000. The report, which was prepared by members of the Thematic Working Group on MDGs in the Arab Region and the UN Economic and Social Commission on Western Asia, found that labour markets in the region suffer from high unemployment rates, particularly among Arab youth. Youth unemployment is particularly high in most Arab countries and was estimated at 50 per cent in 2006. It has since been reduced to 30 per cent.
Other serious concerns were expressed with regards to the increase in hunger in less developed Arab countries as a result of rising food prices and overall food insecurity.
The report revealed that some Arab regions are on track towards achieving gender parity in primary school enrollment, although several challenges remain in some places like Egypt andthe Gulf.
The report indicates that more than 60 per cent of primary school-aged children enrolled in school were girls. As far as progress in universal primary education, the region has witnessed positive trends in net enrollment rates, gender parity in primary schools, and the literacy rate of young adults ages 15 to 24. However, countries like Iraq, Lebanon, Oman and Palestine have witnessed a gradual decline in their overall educational performance.
In general, the region has witnessed a recent rush in efforts exerted by Arab governments, non-governmental organisations and civil society to tackle discrimination against women through the allocation of large investments to women's issues. However, the economic and political participation of women in the region is still quite limited.
The report added that economic diversification also remains a major challenge for the Arab region.
In order to accelerate the region's progress towards achieving MDG success, the report identified six main regional priorities: securing food, reducing poverty, adapting to climate change, providing employment for younger populations, increasing job quality, and promoting gender equality.
Most Arab countries are on track with regards to reducing child mortality rates. The mortality of children younger than five has been on a steady decline in the region, moving from 83 per 1000 live births in 1990 to 52 per 1000 live births in 2008 – a 37 per cent reduction in 18 years. However, overall, the Arab region is not on track for achieving the MDG 2015 target of an under-five mortality rate of 28 per 1,000 live births. Also, there are great variations among Arab countries regarding the maternal mortality rate, as most Gulf countries have less than 10 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, while countries like Somalia experience some 1,600 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
The effectiveness in combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases is also mixed within the Arab region. Although the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is still relatively low in Arab countries compared to other countries, specific groups and locations within the region are considered to be at a high risk of exposure to the disease. Malaria, however, has been successfully eliminated in the majority of Arab countries.
The report revealed that virtually all of the Arab countries are facing major challenges as they attempt to improve their overall environmental governance, and as they struggle to integrate environmental resources management with poverty reduction strategies and national development plans.
Sima Bahous, the assistant secretary general for social affairs at the Arab League, noted that achieving the MDGs is not impossible. However, meeting these goals requires strong will and determination of Arab leaders, as well as the implementation of proper social and political legislative policies. “Today we are renewing our desire to achieve the MDGs by 2015,” said Bahous.