UN to assist in Myanmar's first census in 31 years

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Myanmar Vice President Sai Mauk Kham witnessed the signing of the assistance agreement to conduct the proposed 2014 population and housing census.
The government estimates the population at 60 million people, but economists believe it might be as high as 65 million.
Ban noted that the census-taking will face a challenge in accessing the whole country, parts of which are still battle sites between government forces and ethnic minority insurgencies.
"I hope that current and future ceasefires will make this possible," Ban said. "The involvement of minorities and civil society will be crucial."
Vijay Nambiar, Ban's special adviser on Myanmar, said the census "will provide important benchmark data for national development planning and assessment, including on the impact of the launched reforms," and facilitate donor support of development.//DPA