UN chief sends SOS on poverty

2010-06-28 20:46

John Heilprin

New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is sending nations a message that urgent efforts to reduce poverty, grapple with climate change, and help Haitians must not lessen because of the global financial crisis.

Ban told reporters on Monday on his return from the Group of 20 rich and developing nations' summit in Toronto that they should not balance their budget shortfalls "on the backs of the world's poorest people".

Leaders at the weekend summit endorsed a vow by rich nations to slash budget deficits in half by 2013.

- SAPA