How many poor Arabs are there? Time to find out, By Nadim Kawach, August 21, 2010, Emirates 24|7 News: “Arab nations need to create a common data network and a map for poverty in their region as part of a strategy intended to upgrade their socio-economic information and combat poverty, according to an official Arab group. Despite widespread poverty in many regional countries, Arab governments still far lag behind in gathering accurate data on local poverty and need to change criteria used in measuring poverty and preparing indexes in this respect, the Khartoum-based Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) said. In a study released this week, AOAD said a poverty index should be based on family consumption data instead of GDP per capita income…”

Report: Insecurity in Arab world hinders its progress, By Edith M. Lederer (AP), July 22, 2009, Seattle Times: “A new report by over 100 independent intellectuals and scholars from Arab countries blames political, economic, social and environmental problems for undermining the lives and freedom of Arabs - coupled with the region’s vulnerability to outside intervention.  According to the Arab Human Development Report 2009 released Tuesday, what’s missing in the Arab world is ‘human security - the kind of material and moral foundation that secures lives, livelihoods and an acceptable quality of life for the majority’…”