World may fail to meet poverty goals: UN

Global efforts to end poverty and make the world a better place by 2015 are on the
brink of failure because of the economic crisis.
In 2000, 189 world leaders agreed on a 15-year plan delivering on eight tangible
targets, including stopping poverty, gender inequality and bettering education as
part of the Millennium Development Goals project.
The United Nations admitted on Monday that efforts made over the past nine years
were at risk of being undermined by the global economic and food crises.
More than halfway towards the international deadline, UN secretary-general Ban
Ki-moon warned that overall progress was too slow for most of the targets to be met
- a sentiment shared by Australian charity Caritas, which said the Millennium
Development Goals were "teetering on the brink of failure".
Chief executive Jack de Groot said Australia and other rich nations had turned their
backs on the poor.
"The financial crisis is hurting many of us, but it is a temporary malaise in
contrast to the billion people a day who continue to struggle to feed themselves,"
he said.
"We know we can wipe out poverty and there have been real successes already."
The UN identified several areas where improvements had been made, including steady
falls in the numbers of childhood deaths and dramatic improvements in those living
in poverty in Asia.
Overall poverty decreased by 25 per cent due to the Millennium Development Goals,
while primary school enrolments rose to 88 per cent.
But according to a recent study, all gains had since slowed or were at threat of
even being reversed by the economic downturn, which has increased food prices and
cut employment worldwide.
The UN estimates an extra 55 to 90 million people will be living in extreme poverty
in 2009 as a result.
Mr de Groot said it was time to prioritise.
"We must redouble our efforts, increase international aid and fight against
protectionist trade measures," he said.
"This week we have the G8 meeting in Italy and it is crucial that the commitments
the rich world have made to tackle poverty are resurrected."