From: wsargeant@IGC.ORG (Winslow L. Sargeant)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS:Population, Egypt to get 20-million
Date: 10 Apr 92 01:50:21 GMT

/* Written  5:03 pm  Apr  9, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "POPULATION: EGYPT TO GET 20-MILLION" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Africa, north; Third World Dvpmnt
Title: POPULATION: EGYPT TO GET 20-MILLION-DOLLAR UNFPA ASSISTANCE


new york, apr 6 (ips) -- the united nations population fund
(unfpa) monday proposed a comprehensive programme totaling 20
million dollars to assist the government of egypt in its
population and development objectives.

the programmes are aimed at reducing egypt's population growth
rate from its current 2.7 percent to 2.1 percent by the year 2000,
increasing the availability of contraceptives, reducing illiteracy
among women, and promoting the linkages between population, the
environment and natural resources.

with access to clean drinking water becoming egypt's most
pressing natural resource problem, the unfpa proposes to assist
public information campaigns on national television and radio to
enhance awareness on population and natural resources, especially
water.

according to the proposal, approximately 98 percent of  egypt's
54 million people live on only four percent of its land mass, with
most of that population concentrated in the nile valley and the
mediterranean coast.

it says that almost half of egypt's population lives in cities,
and that roughly one-third of the country's drinking water is lost
through faulty plumbing.

in addition, the proposal notes that the recent return of
millions of egyptians who had been working in the gulf states
prior to the 1991 gulf war has further aggravated population
pressures on water supplies.

among the water problems afflicting the country are increasing
salinisation and waterlogging of agricultural lands, and
widespread water pollution.

in addition to continuing maternal and child health care
services, the unfpa proposes to support local manufacturing of
inter-uterine devices (iuds), as well as local production of oral
and other contraceptives.

the unfpa programme would also give special attention to
integrating women's concerns and gender issues into policy
formulations designed to enhance the status of women.

it notes that emphasis would be placed on women's reproductive
health by providing women with a wider choice of contraceptives,
and by designing informational and educational messages directed
at young women on birth spacing and the advantages of marriage at
an older age. (more/ips)

population: egypt to get 20-million-dollar unfpa assistance(2-e)

population: egypt (2)

the agency's programme strategies would also focus on the key
role of women as agents for population and water resource
management.

the proposed funds, to be spent over the next five years, will
go before the governing council of the u.n. development programme
(undp) for approval at a may 24-29 meeting in geneva.

according to the unfpa proposal, 10 million dollars would be
provided for by the u.n. agency's regular resources, with the
remaining 10 million dollars to come from a combination of the
regular resources and other bilateral funds.
(end/ips/ps/jd/yjc/92)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african