Government fears of increasing poor numbers

SANA'A, Oct. 18 (Saba) - On the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of poverty, October 17, Minister of Industry and Trade Yahya al-Mutawakel voiced his fears of increasing the poor numbers and dropping efforts to combat poverty and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, all of that due to the global financial crisis.

During a ceremony organized by Yemeni Alliance for International Call to Reduce
Poverty in cooperation with Civil Society Organizations Network (CSOs network),
al-Mutawakel asserted Saturday the government's commitment to fight poverty and
reinforce development plans.

He highlighted that Yemen has suffered from the world food crisis and its negative
impacts on the national economy and development process.

The minister praised the role of the CSOs to combat poverty, calling the
organizations to enhance their efforts and to strengthen partnership with government
and private sector in this regard.

The chairman of the Yemeni Women Union Ramziah al-Eriani called on the Eight
Countries to meet their commitment to the Third World to alleviate its suffering
from poverty and to realize the Millennium Development Goals, indicating to the
efforts exerted by the government and its partner CSOs network concerning
development management and alleviate poverty.

It is worth mentioning that the celebration of the International Day for the
Eradication of poverty in the country is on 17 - 19 October.