DOHA, 7 March — Stressing that there is no vaccine against climate change and disaster, speakers called for urgent action today to assist vulnerable States because “the ‘now’ is long overdue”, as the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries concluded its third day of high-level thematic round tables.
In progress at UNHQ
Development
DOHA, 7 March — Overcoming the digital divide through investment in broadband infrastructure will help those living in least developed countries leverage economic opportunities in a world that is increasingly moving online, speakers stressed today as the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries held its third day of debates, which also featured States offering to share their development experience with the international community.
DOHA, 6 March — Structural transformation — through measures such as increased market access, industrial development, export diversification and capacity-building — is required to bolster the stagnating economies of many least developed countries, speakers stressed today as the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries concluded its second day of high-level thematic round tables.
Six months after devastating floods struck Pakistan, the United Nations and its partners have reached more than 7 million people with food and other essential services, including life-saving interventions for children. Yet only 30 per cent of the Floods Response Plan has been funded so far.
DOHA, 6 March — By leveraging science, technology and information, least developed countries must be transformed into knowledge societies, speakers at the second high-level thematic round table emphasized as the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries began its second day.
DOHA, 6 March — The world is facing an “inequality crisis”, in which 46 countries comprising 14 per cent of the global population face serious impediments directly hampering their ability to progress economically and graduate from the least developed country category, world leaders warned today as the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries entered its second day in Doha.
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the private sector forum at the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, in Doha today:
DOHA, 5 March — With least developed countries fast approaching tipping points across a range of interlocking crises — including climate change, conflict and the first increase in extreme poverty in a generation — speakers today stressed that the international community must rise to the occasion, as the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries held the first of its eight high-level thematic round tables.
Acknowledging that the 46 countries in the least developed category have been handed “the rawest of deals”, world leaders called for a radical transformation of the deeply dysfunctional global financial order and a renewed commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals as the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries opened today in Doha.
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the plenary of the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, in Doha today: