UNESCWA Executive Secretary Mervat Tallawy said the Arab youth are facing tremendous political, security, economic and social challenges that are driving them abroad in search for a better future. Tallawy was speaking to the contestants of Star Academy 2006 who visited the UN House ahead of a music concert they will be holding at 8:00pm Tuesday at the UNESCO Palace, Beirut, as part of the cultural events organized on the sidelines of the UNESCWA 24th Ministerial Session in Beirut from 8 to 11 May 2006.

Tallawy gave a briefing on UNESCWA activities that strengthen social and economic integration between its member countries through integrated development policies tailored to the specificities of each country.

The contestants are: Hanaa El Idrissi (Morocco), Hani Hussein and Rakiya Ibrahim (Egypt), Joseph Attieh and Maya Nehme (Lebanon), Khalifa Salem (UAE), Fadi Andraos (Palestine), Chayma Hilaly and Wajdi Lakhal (Tunis).