Settlements programme for the Palestinian people – Second Cttee debate – Press release (excerpts)

ECONOMIC COMMITTEE TOLD OF PROGRESS BY UN-HABITAT IN EASING

PROBLEMS OF WATER SUPPLY, SANITATION IN SLUM AREAS

Agency Said to Need Increased Funds to Reach Millennium

Goals; Debate Concludes on Global Conference on Development Financing

(Issued on 15 October 2004.)

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Background

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met today to conclude its discussion of the follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development (for background information, see Press Release GA/EF/3079 of 13 September).  It was also expected to consider implementation of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), and of the twenty-fifth special session of the General Assembly.

Before the Committee was a report of the Secretary-General on implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (document A/59/198).  It states that governments have increased support for the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation and the Technical Cooperation Trust Fund, set up within the framework of the Special Human Settlements Programme for the Palestinian people.  …

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The report encourages governments to include water, sanitation and human settlements in national development plans, and to increase contributions to boost implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, as well as the relevant commitments of the Millennium Declaration, particularly improving significantly the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020.  It also encourages governments and financial institutions to contribute generously to the Technical Cooperation Trust Fund and the Special Human Settlements Programme for the Palestinian people, so that the UN-Habitat can help alleviate long-term deterioration in the human settlements of the occupied Palestinian territory.  Governments should also support the participation of partner groups from developing countries at the World Urban Forum, to be held in Barcelona, Spain, in 2004.

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