Sanitation a concern despite positive development in region
Play
Jan Eliasson, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, is optimistic about economic development in Asia-Pacific and other developing countries amid the weak economies in Europe and United States but warns that 2.5 billion people live without sanita
“There is positive development in Asia-Pacific as well as in Latin America and Africa while there is an economic downturn in Europe,” he said during an interview with The Nation.
Eliasson come to Bangkok to attend Unescap’s 69th session from April 25-1 May. Myanmar President U Thein Sein joins other Asia-Pacific leaders in discussing strategies to build resilience to natural disaster and economic crises in the region.
Trade and investment in the region would continue growing. The strengthening of the region is not only good for the people here but it also for the global economy, Eliasson said.
However, the region is facing challenges including climate change, poverty eradication, sustainable development and strengthening institutions.
Policy-makers, the private sector, civil society and communities should work together to achieve development sustainability, he addressed the conference.
“The range of regional issues before you is both exciting and challenging – from charting new development paths to build resilience to natural disaster, and from promoting social protection to accelerating economic integration and South-South trade,” he said.
“With less than 1,000 days until the end of 2015, the agreed deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs], I urge you to seize the opportunity from this commission session to scale up action to accelerate our efforts, be they national, regional or global.”
The MDG campaign has been the most successful global anti-poverty drive in history, but there are still many gaps. “Two-and-a-half billion people in mostly rural areas but also growingly in urban areas do not have sanitation, a threat to health and an affront to human dignity,” he added.
