HAITI-US: Bush Fears Vessels of Mass Desperation (VMD) Above All

The administration of President George W. Bush appears undecided about how to deal with this week's violence and growing chaos in Haiti, and increasingly worried it could spark a new exodus of thousands of boat people onto the high seas.

HAITI: Caribbean Leaders Try to Crack Impasse

Caribbean leaders will try their hand where others have failed when they sit down with Haitian opposition leaders in Bahamas this week, but observers here remain very sceptical of any positive outcome.

HABITAT-PANAMA: Residents of Historic District Oppose Relocation

The restoration of a historic neighbourhood here could transform it into a money-spinning destination for tourists but that brings little cheer to some 600 poor families who live there.

HABITAT-SIERRA LEONE: Moving From Bad To Worse

Thousands of squatters in the Sierra Leonean capital have been moved to a former camp for the displaced under what the squatters describe as the government's "wicked" resettlement programme.

HABITAT-UNITED NATIONS: Headquarters Needs a New Lease On Life

The 16th session of the Commission on Human Settlements (Habitat) ended here this week with members recommending budgetary cuts to breathe a new lease on life into the United Nations body.

SOUTH AFRICA-HABITAT: Township Dwellers Find it Hard to get Loans

Last week, Moses Majola and hundreds of other people living in a suburb within this sprawling township could not walk into a bank and get a loan for a house, simply because of where they lived.

SOUTH AFRICA-HABITAT: A Good Home is Still Hard To Own

Providing adequate housing has been one of the hardest campaign policies to fulfill for South Africa's new democratic government, which this year celebrates its third year in power.

SOUTH AFRICA-HABITAT: Hostels Here To Stay

South Africa's migrant hostels, which have been linked to periodic eruptions of violence in the country, are one legacy of apartheid which continue to live on.

NIGERIA-HABITAT: Who Should Build Houses For All?

While Nigerians showered nothing but praise for Chinese assistance to revamp the Nigeria Railways, the same red carpet has not been so readily rolled out for the Asian country's participation in the National Housing Programme(NHP).