UNITED NATIONS

In a bid to check themenace,of malaria inSolomoA Islands (in thesouthwest Pacific Ocean),the UN DevelopmentProgramme (UNDP) willprovide US $548,000 forcommunity-based malaria developmentprogramme. The archipelago has a highincidepce of malaria, with a national rate of207 cases per 1,000 poDple in 1996. The disease has adversely affected local economy and education because of high rates of student and worker absenteeism. The number of cases have reduced by half since a malaria control programme started five years ago. UNDP will focus on two of the mostaffected regions the Western andChoiseul provinces. Under the programme,local women's groups will distribute treatedmosquito nets in around 2,000 communitiesand also promote health education.

A UNDP project aims at preserving theunique biodiversity on Socotra Island inYemen. The Global Environment Fadlityhas approved a US $4.9 million package forthe project. Over a third of the island'splants are found only there. Many of themare valuable food and fodder sources, ormedicinal species known only to theislanders. The project will also help theYemeni government make improvementsin health, education, renewable energy useand water and sanitation services In theisland.