On the occasion of the UN cation control programmes.World Day to CombatDesertificaion on June 17, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, violence as a public health problem wasAecutive director of the gramme, said that the viewed as an isolated, focalised threat; it h abstract planning and lack of political will00031MMENIM were responsible for the failure of desertifas wide environmental, economic and social ramifications. @illions of people worldwide who stay in dry lands suffer hardships as the lands lose all productivity forcing them to move to a worse existence in an urban setting. She said that neglect of the social dimensions of the problem abstract planning and lack of political will were responsible for the failure of desertification control programmes.
An international plan of action to deal With World Health Organization (WHO) at theproblem of desertification should not beunanimously endorsed by more than 1,200UN Development Pro- delegates from 191 member nations of the50th World Health Assembly in Genevarecently. The agenda proposes collection ofreliable data within the next three yearswhich would be used in the formulation of,and in setting targets for the programmeon violence prevention and health.According to WHO, on an average, violenceresults in more than 3.5 million deaths, every year.