in the least develoPed countries. The ooorest of the qlobal ooor continue to struqqle for bare survival in the least developed countries. One thinker and PhilosoPher once said, "All existence is not livinq, and all livinq is not life". This aPtlv sums uP the pliqht of the peoPle in the least developed countries. The international communi tv focused maior attention on the problems of the least develoPed countries' underdevelopment when the first United Nations Conference on the Least DeveloPed Countries was convened in Paris in 1981. The Substantial New Proqramme of Action (SNPA) acbpted by the Conference called for both international measures and national efforts aimed at amelioratinq the difficulties of the least developed countries. The donor communitv's commitment to Provide 0.15 per cent of the qross national product as official d:!veloPment assistance or to double their official develoPment assistance bv 1985 represented a milestone in concerted international resoonse to the problems of the least developed countries. One thouqht a decade of hope and promise had beCiun for them. JVM/4 A/S-18/PV.lO 4 (Mr~ Tshering, Bhutan) That decade is now behind us. The hope and promise it held remained an illusion. In spite of donor commitment, the SNPA target remains largely unfulfilled with a few notable exceptions. Many least developed countries experienced a negative growth rate despite domestic reforms. Even more disturbing is the fact that the number of least developed countries increased from 31 to 42 during that period~ I have dwelt at some length here on the problems of the least developed countries as I believe it puts into sharp focus the overall deterioration of the economic conditions of all developing countries. The resultant impact on the least developed countries cannot be over-emphasized. The onus is now on us to decide whether this abysmal record of the 1980s 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the challenges faced by the least developed countries, specifically in terms of underdevelopment and the lack of progress in achieving the goals set by the United Nations. The author highlights the economic difficulties, including negative growth rates and the failure to meet the SNPA target, which suggests that the category related to economic development is most fitting.

**Category**
Economic development, Humanitarian aid and relief