UN agency chief welcomes African Union's invitation to fight urban poverty

The chief of the United Nations agency for urban settlements today welcomed the invitation by the African Union to collaborate in fighting the urbanization of poverty, condemning millions to unemployment, food insecurity and other problems generated by squalid living conditions.

The appeal to the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) was made last week in Maputo, Mozambique at the annual gathering of the African leaders during which they adopted a draft decision to embark on a coordinated initiative to curb the growing poverty among most urban dwellers on the continent.

"This really is a break-through," said UN-HABITAT's Executive Director, Anna Tibaijuka. "The adoption of this decision opens the door for a more serious engagement with the continental body on an issue that has never before featured on its agenda."

The draft resolution also called on the agency's chief "to continue rendering support" to the African Union's executive commission to help address urban poverty.