(September 20, 2010) With only five years left until the 2015 deadline to achieve
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), world leaders have gathered for a crucial
3-day summit at the United Nations in New York to discuss ways to accelerate progress
towards tackling global poverty and hunger. The Sept. 20-22 summit of some 140 leaders
that kicked off on Monday has been convoked by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
While countries agree with the goals for slashing global poverty, rich nations struggling
with high unemployment and rising debt, want the debate to focus on getting the best
development results from anti-poverty programs. Of the eight MDGs goals, the United
Nations agrees that the goal of halving poverty and hunger and cutting in half the
number of people without clean water will be met. Progress on the other goals ranging
from helping women and their newborns to environmental sustainability are mixed.
The global financial and economic recession has complicated the MDGs, forcing rich
nations to cut aid budgets and slowing growth in poor countries hurt by the sharp
drop in global trade and soaring prices for food and fuel as well as job losses.
U.S. President Barack Obama is due to address the summit on Wednesday. Also taking
part are French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.