SITTWE MYANMAR - MAY 4: Burmese Rohingya madrassa students read the Koran during religious class on May 4, 2009 in Sittwe, Arakan state, Myanmar (Burma). The Rohingya Muslim minority live in Muslim neighborhoods in Sittwe. The situation of Rohingyas in Arakan has become worse after the international media began highlighting since December 2008 the Rohingya boat peoples' plight who are subject to severe restrictions of movement by the government, religious persecution, and extortion. The Rohingya are physically, linguistically and culturally similar to South Asians, especially Chittagonian people from Bangladesh. The Burmese government spends only 0.3% of the gross domestic product on health, the lowest amount worldwide, according to the United Nations Development Program 2008 survey (UNDP). Many Burmese are low income, living in the poverty-stricken rural areas and can't even afford to have a meal in a day. Getty Images logo Getty Images 7 months ago

SITTWE MYANMAR - MAY 4: Burmese Rohingya madrassa students read the Koran during religious class on May 4, 2009 in Sittwe, Arakan state, Myanmar (Burma). The Rohingya Muslim minority live in Muslim neighborhoods in Sittwe. The situation of Rohingyas in Arakan has become worse after the international media began highlighting since December 2008 the Rohingya boat peoples' plight who are subject to severe restrictions of movement by the government, religious persecution, and extortion. The Rohingya are physically, linguistically and culturally similar to South Asians, especially Chittagonian people from Bangladesh. The Burmese government spends only 0.3% of the gross domestic product on health, the lowest amount worldwide, according to the United Nations Development Program 2008 survey (UNDP). Many Burmese are low income, living in the poverty-stricken rural areas and can't even afford to have a meal in a day.

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  1. Afghan opposition candidate Abdullah Abdullah (R) shakes hands with United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon (C) as United Nation's special envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide (L, background) looks on prior to a meeting in Kabul on November 2, 2009. UN chief Ban Ki-moon flew into Kabul on November 2 to meet President Hamid Karzai over the Afghan election crisis with organisers to announce whether or not to scrap the poll after the only challenger pulled out. The surprise visit from Ban accompanied a diplomatic push to ensure the November 7 one-horse race does not take place, despite the initial insistence from some officials that it is too late to halt the process.
  2. Palestinian and UN vehicles take a flooded street following heavy rains in the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on October 29, 2009. Hamas said it will ban the organisation of elections in its Gaza Strip stronghold after president Mahmud Abbas called for a vote in the Palestinian territories.
  3. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (C) meets with French senatorial delegation members, Senator of Val-d'Oise Robert Hue (2ndL), Senator of Morbihan Josselin de Rohan (2ndR), Senator of Meurthe-et-Moselle Daniel Renier (R) and Secretary General of the French Delegates for the 64th Session of the General Assembly Philippe Thiebaud (L), at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009.
  4. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (2ndL) meets with French senatorial delegation members, Senator of Val-d'Oise Robert Hue (L), Senator of Morbihan Josselin de Rohan (2ndR) and Senator of Meurthe-et-Moselle Daniel Renier, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009.
  5. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009. Ban Ki-Moon condemned the 'despicable and brutal' attack on a UN guesthouse in Kabul, which left five UN staff dead, but said the UN remained committed to Afghanistan.
  6. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009. Ban Ki-Moon condemned the 'despicable and brutal' attack on a UN guesthouse in Kabul, which left five UN staff dead, but said the UN remained committed to Afghanistan.
  7. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009. Ban Ki-Moon condemned the 'despicable and brutal' attack on a UN guesthouse in Kabul, which left five UN staff dead, but said the UN remained committed to Afghanistan.
  8. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009. Ban Ki-Moon condemned the 'despicable and brutal' attack on a UN guesthouse in Kabul, which left five UN staff dead, but said the UN remained committed to Afghanistan.
  9. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009. Ban Ki-Moon condemned the 'despicable and brutal' attack on a UN guesthouse in Kabul, which left five UN staff dead, but said the UN remained committed to Afghanistan.
  10. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009. Ban Ki-Moon condemned the 'despicable and brutal' attack on a UN guesthouse in Kabul, which left five UN staff dead, but said the UN remained committed to Afghanistan.
  11. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009. Ban Ki-Moon condemned the 'despicable and brutal' attack on a UN guesthouse in Kabul, which left five UN staff dead, but said the UN remained committed to Afghanistan.
  12. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009. Ban Ki-Moon condemned the 'despicable and brutal' attack on a UN guesthouse in Kabul, which left five UN staff dead, but said the UN remained committed to Afghanistan.
  13. An Afghan police commando keeps guard (L) while UN investigating personnel watch as an ambulance carrying two bodies leave The Bekhtar Guesthouse in Kabul on October 28, 2009, after a two-hour gunbattle with Taliban suicide gunmen killed six expatriate UN staff. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it is the first step in a campaign against the upcoming second round run-off in the presidential elections.
  14. An UN vehicle is seen through the bullet riddled guardhouse of The Bekhtar Guesthouse in Kabul on October 28, 2009, after an attack by Taliban suicide gunmen killed six expatriate UN staff. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it is the first step in a campaign against the forthcoming second round run-off in the presidential elections.
  15. An UN vehicle is seen through the bullet riddled guardhouse of The Bekhtar Guesthouse in Kabul on October 28, 2009, after an attack by Taliban suicide gunmen killed six expatriate UN staff. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it is the first step in a campaign against the forthcoming second round run-off in the presidential elections.
  16. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 28: Armed Afghan police guard a UN ambulance carrying bodies of victims recovered from the Bekhtar guesthouse after an attack by Taliban militants on Octber 28, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. According to the UN six of its staff are reported to have been killed and nine were wounded in the attack on the Bekhtar guesthouse. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack which took place as Afghanistan prepares for the upcoming second round run-off in the presidential elections.

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