LDCs appeal for more aid from rich nations to combat poverty

UNITED NATIONS: The group of the world's Least Developed Countries (LDCs) on Wednesday called on rich nations to provide more resources to help them cope with development challenges.

Speaking on behalf of the LDCs, a group of some 50 countries, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told a UN General Assembly debate that the group continues to face the " structural impediments to development that have been their bane." The "unprecedented" hikes in food price and climate change are the new challenges that the LDCs will have to address, he said, urging rich nations to honor promises by providing more help to the LDCs.

The foreign minister urged rich nations to fulfill the Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment of 0.2 percent of GNI, cancel all LDC external debts, offer better market access and provide more favorable treatment to services providers of LDCs. New York, Thursday, Xinhua