Sheikha Amthal: GCC unity within UN-HABITAT vital

NAPLES: Chairperson of Kuwait’s Volunteer Center Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah affirmed here yesterday that unity of the GCC corps in the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) would further develop coordination amongst Gulf nations within the human and urban development domains and also help the program achieve its goals.

In an exclusive interview), Sheikha Amthal, who headed the Kuwaiti delegation to the recently concluded Sixth World Urban Development Forum here, said that this was the first time the GCC heavily participated in the event as one unit, affirming that Gulf delegates to the forum contributed tremendously to the meeting.

About the Gulf Consultative Human Settlements Committee, the official said that the group was still formulating its organizational and hierarchy structures, stressing that once things were put into perspective, the committee would heavily contribute to urban and human developments on a regional and international scales. Sheikha Amthal commended the role played by UN-HABITAT in supporting urban advancement around the globe, taking into consideration the human and environmental aspects which came along with this type of development.

During her participation, Sheikha Amthal indicated that it was important to establish a global network to exchange information and expertise in regards to the development of human and urban settlements, stressing that such step would help in preventing crises from occurring and help coordinate efforts amongst those interested in such ventures.

The UN-HABITAT is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It was established in 1978 and has its headquarters at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, Kenya. It is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. It is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Its regional centers are called ‘United Nations Centre for Human Settlements’ (Habitat)/(UNCHS), and are situated at Nairobi, Rio de Janeiro, and Fukuoka. – KUNA

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