Gulf | Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia makes progress by slashing poverty in record time
Saudi Arabia has succeeded in slashing poverty rates to half, said Khalid Al Qusaibi, Minister of Economy and Planning, in a statement published yesterday.
- By Mariam Al Hakeem, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 April 26, 2007
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has succeeded in slashing poverty rates to half, said Khalid Al Qusaibi, Minister of Economy and Planning, in a statement published yesterday.
The kingdom has pledged to eradicate poverty by 2015.
Speaking at a function in Riyadh to mark the second national development objectives, the minister highlighted the success attained by the kingdom in meeting the development targets set by the UN, which were announced in 2000.
The report was prepared by the ministry of economy and planning in cooperation with the concerned Saudi government authorities and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Fund
In December 2002, the Saudi government established a poverty-fighting fund, following a visit made by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to some poor districts in Riyadh.
Studies prepared by the ministry of social affairs and independent researchers said poverty in the kingdom has a number of reasons, like low income, early retirements and lack of social awareness among poor families.
Al Qusaibi said the kingdom has attained progress in fighting poverty in a record time and even before 2015, the deadline set by the UN.
He said the targets include eradication of poverty, education, enhancing gender equality, reduction of immortality rate, improving the health situation of mothers, combating Aids, malaria and other diseases.
He said the Kingdom has succeeded in meeting 9 out of the 11 general objectives.
Children
He said the mortality rate among children younger than 5 was reduced from 44 per 1,000 in 1990 to 20.3 in 2005.
The mortality rate among mothers while giving birth has been reduced from 48 per 100,000 in 1990 to 12 in 2005.
In 2004, around 33.2 per cent of females were admitted to universities compared to 18.1 per cent for males.
He said the plan was to stop the spread of Aids, Malaria and other major diseases by 2015.
Al Qusabi said the objective is to cut to half the number of those who have no access to safe drinking water.
According to reports, in 2005, the proportion of people who have access to safe water resources in rural and urban areas of the kingdom reached 95 per cent.
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