The growing interest in environmental statistics amongst the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) countries has encouraged ESCWA to gather and publish environmental statistics for the region. This publication is the third issue covering environmental statistics with the aim to disseminate, as widely as possible, environmental statistics on ESCWA countries. This publication contains the most relevant environmental issues and concerns in the region.

This summary of Millennium Development Goals in the Arab Region 2005 was prepared as a collaborative ‎effort of United Nations agencies in the region on the occasion of the September 2005 World Summit and ‎the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, this effort was coordinated by ESCWA. It provides an ‎overview of progress in the Arab region ‎ towards the stated aim of achieving the Goals by 2015 and ‎highlights key challenges and issues. Data and analyses are presented by sub-region.

According to the International Organization for Migration, by 2010, the world migrant population stock will have reached 214 million, meaning that one in every 35 people globally will be a migrant. Furthermore, a combination of current socio-economic and demographic trends is expected to further increase the scale of international migration. Any comprehensive response, aimed at managing the complexities of this situation, needs to be supported by reliable data. However, statistics on international migration in the ESCWA region are scarce and poorly circulated.

This Bulletin presents data and statistical indicators on external trade in goods for ESCWA member countries. Data are presented in time series until 2012 and were drawn primarily from national sources, as well as from secondary sources where appropriate. This publication aims to provide policymakers, analysts, researchers and other users at the national, regional and international levels with global and detailed data on intraregional and international trade of member countries.