ANSAmed

(ANSAmed) - ROME, JULY 21 - The United Nations report on human development in Arab countries in 2009 was presented in Beirut today. The report - titled 'Challenges to human security in Arab countries' - was created by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), centred in Lebanon with the participation of many scholars from the region. From the scarcity of natural resources, to the demographic pressures, to the increasing vulnerability of women and refugees, the report paints an alarming picture regarding the current conditions of human development in the region. The demographic pressure, according to EU data, will bring populations in Arab nations to 395 million citizens in 2015, compared to the current 317 million. This growth is a large hazard to the availability of natural resources, and above all water resources - already at risk. Available water sources in the Arab nations, according to the EU's estimates, is close to 227 billion cubic metres yearly, of which 43% is used exclusively by these nations, while the remaining 57% is shared with other areas such as Africa and Asia. There exists yet another problem confronting water resources in the region: the issue of growing desertification. The EU has estimated that the region's deserts have swallowed two thirds of the available terrain since 1960. With regards to human rights, the European Union has emphasized that a large part of the Arab states have failed to introduce laws for social inclusion, equal distribution of wealth and protection of ethnic diversity. Furthermore there remains the problem of violence against women: many Arab women are still subject to physical and cultural violence - fruit of patriarchal, discriminatory and misogynistic attitudes still present in many of these nations. Human trafficking as well, has remained a growing concern in these countries. The trading has become a multi-million dollar transnational industry which is particularly active in Saudi Arabia, the Arab Emirates, Yemen and Lebanon. The trade indiscriminately involves men, women and children. Finally, the question of refugees: The European Union estimates that there exist close to 7.5 million in the region, 46.5% of the total number of refugees registered by international organizations. The highest concentrations are held within Jordan, Syria and Palestinian Territory. The UNDP has emphasized that human development in the Arab nations depends heavily upon the peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict. (ANSAmed).