57 years after birth UN has hands full [Archives:2002/48/Focus]

BY YASER AL-MAYASI
Last week the 57th anniversary of the United Nations was celebrated. Founded on Oct. 24, 1945, after the Second World War, 51 states joined. Now there are 191.
The principles for which the UN was founded are peace and security, developing friendly relations between countries on the basis of equal rights, self-determination, human rights and freedoms, regardless sex, religion, language and color.
Such principles, along with solving international crises, make the UN a home for all.
It is evident that the UN is always dedicated to implementing these goals. For instance, since in Sept. 2000, UN numbers including 147 presidents, met in New York to identify priorities of the new century.
That resulted in the Millennium Announcement, which focused on human development around the world. The developmental aims focus on fighting poverty, hunger, enhancing equality between the two sexes, reducing death rates of children, improving health services and fighting AIDS, Malaria, tuberculosis and other epidemic disease.
They come in a time when the gap between the poor and rich people is getting wider. About one-sixth of populations in developing countries live well, while one-sixth of the population are struggling to survive, stricken by illness, poverty, hunger, and ecological disasters.
Between these two classes, the majority of the world population lives, deprived of security, and other essential needs which are enjoyed by the people of the developed countries.
The UN indicators show that about $10 billion is needed by 2005 to deal with such, while there is now $3 billions allocated for fighting AIDS.
Such shocking numbers indicate more than 23 % of the developing world population are of a very low income, less than $1 a day.
However, these frightening figures require serious initiatives from the whole world. In fact, the UN has a lot of serious challenges with deteriorating incomes of the developing countries, diseases, education and wars.
These problems cannot be solved unless practical action takes place. Otherwise, current economic conditions, and regional and international problems will be worse in the future.

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