Securing water for sustainable development is crucial. Nearly all member countries suffer from freshwater scarcity, with 18 out of 22 Arab States below the water poverty line of 1,000 m3/person/year. Salinity affects surface and groundwater resources, particularly in agricultural areas and above coastal aquifer systems where most of the Arab region’s population is concentrated.

The Expert Group Meeting on “Development Under Crisis Conditions” (Beirut, 27-28 June 2006) aimed at reaching a common understanding of the impact of conflict on socio-economic and political development in the region. It also sought to identify means of assisting member states in pursuing their Millennium Development Goals despite instability and political volatility. The meeting examined comparative experiences with development implementation under crisis conditions in three locales: Iraq, the Palestinian Territories, and Lebanon.

Gender-based violence (GBV), violence directed against a person on the basis of gender, is a global phenomenon and a grave violation of human rights. Its most common form is violence against women.

The International Comparison Program (ICP) Regional Office, which is a part of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Statistics Division, has launched a periodic newsletter as a forum to exchange information and experiences, and making users of statistics aware of the ICP. This newsletter aims at highlighting ICP activities and expectations for the end of the 2011 ICP round.