news from nowhere

"The UN Habitat Special Citation is bestowed upon individuals who have shown extraordinary commitment to the improvement of conditions of people living and working in poverty."

I wonder if that award could be sold or traded in for some cash, because according to a UN Study carried out as part of the Millennium Development Goals (MGD) Project:

"The average level of expenditure needed to live in Bahrain at an acceptable level (covering food, drink, housing, cloths, shoes, energy, fuel, transport, communication, education and health) is US$29 per day per family of 6 members, or US$155 per person per month.
In light of these estimates, the study concluded that 11 per cent of Bahraini families fall below this level."

Also, that:

"Regarding income distribution, the MDG survey shows that the income gap ratio between the richest and poorest 10 per cent in Bahrain is 6.2 ... The richest 10 per cent of the population owned 26.6 per cent of total income, while the share for the richest 20 per cent was 41.6 per cent."

And in case these figures are outdated, shall we remind ourselves that an estimated 44,000 low income families are on the waiting list for government subsidised housing? That some, at least, have been waiting up to 12 years?

That the Housing and Works Ministry have said they expect the number of families on the waiting list to reach 50,000 by 2010?

That according to a BMA survey, the rate of poverty in Bahrain is rising while private wealth is worth between US $20-30 billion?

That up to 25% of employed Bahrainis are living on less than BD309 per month? And that according to a Bahrain Centre for Research and Studies report, BD 350 is the minimum monthly figure needed to live a dignified life here?