AIDS crisis meeting announced by UN

The impact of HIV/AIDS on southern Africa will take centre stage this week at a special UN meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. James Morris, the UN Special Envoy for southern Africa, arrived in Zambia today on the first leg of an 11-day, four-nation tour to refocus attention on the severe problems of the region, which have been intensified by drought and the pandemic. "The HIV/AIDS-driven crisis is considered so grave that the Special Envoy will hold a review meeting in Johannesburg on 25 May," said a statement issued by the UN. The meeting is expected to examine current interventions, UN reform and the need to gear up the humanitarian response in an environment where the competition for resources has become much fiercer.