Bahrain Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has urged UN to exert more efforts to bridge gap between rich and poor, calling for mobilisation of resources to improve living conditions worldwide, particularly in poor countries.

In a message marking World Habitat Day, the Premier called on the global community to map out better strategies to cater to people's needs in the fields of housing, health, education, employment, social insurance and environment protection.

Shaikh Khalifa expressed concern over the world's current economic conditions and financial instability, which threaten the Millennium Development Goals. He called on all countries to join forces to restructure their financial policies and introduce adequate reforms to face food and energy price rises among other economic and social challenges.

Shaikh Khalifa stressed the need to press ahead with implementation of the medium-term strategic plan of the UN Human Settlements Programme for 2008-2013.

"This plan will prepare favourable ground to achieve sustainable urbanisation and reduce poverty. This requires enormous funds and massive investment to support housing programmes," the Premier said.-TradeArabia News Service