Eradication efforts not enough: Bairagi

KATHMANDU, Oct 18: With nearly 1.5 billion people still living in absolute poverty, eradication efforts, had not succeeded and it remained the most significant challenges facing mankind, delegates in the Second Committee (Economic and Finance) said on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the UN News Center.



“At the rate of decline observed from 1990 to 2005, it would take another 88 years to eradicate extreme poverty,” said Shanker Bairagi, Nepal´s deputy representative to UN, on behalf of the Group of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) at the 66th session of the General Assembly on Agenda Item 23. [break]



Citing alarming figures from the Secretary-General´s report on the issue, Bairagi urged the international community to make substantive and tangible progress toward eradicating poverty and hunger. “International support is not a choice but a compulsion,” he stated.



According to him, despite their continuing efforts, the LDCs are unlikely to make progress in eradicating poverty and hunger in the foreseeable future if the present trends continue.



“We in the LDCs are committed to do our part but there should be a stronger and enhanced solidarity and support from the international community on a sustainable basis for the LDCs,” he added.

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