But overall, the world now has 55 million extra slum dwellers than it did in 2000, according to UN Habitat, also known as the UN Human Settlements Programme.

BBC: UN says 227m people escaped slums in past decade

Following nomination by the Secretary-General, the General Assembly, on 25 August 2010, elected Joan Clos of Spain as Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) at the level of Under-Secretary-General.

UN: Secretary-General