E/C.12/KHM/CO/1 page 9 exploitation and forced labour, inter alia by prosecuting and convicting offenders of the law against trafficking, supporting programmes and information campaigns to prevent trafficking, providing mandatory training for law enforcement officials, prosecutors and judges on the anti-trafficking legislation and increasing the provision of medical, psychological and legal support for victims. 27. The Committee is deeply concerned that about 36 per cent of the population in the State party lives below the poverty line and are unable to access the WHO standard of caloric intake and that, despite the economic growth in the State party, the national spending on social services such as housing, health and education remains low. The Committee also notes with concern the wide regional disparities in the less developed and economically marginalized provinces, and the significant inequalities in income distribution, especially between urban areas and the rural areas where most of the population live in poverty. (art. 11) The Committee draws the attention of the State party to its statement on “An evaluation of the obligation to take steps to the ‘maximum of its available resources’ under an Optional Protocol to the Covenant” (E/C.12/2007/1), and recommends that the State party increase its national spending on social services and assistance such as housing, food, health and education so as to achieve, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1, the progressive realization of the economic, social and cultural rights provided for in the Covenant. The Committee further recommends that the State party allocate sufficient funds for the implementation of its poverty eradication strategy, and ensure the full integration of economic, social and cultural rights in the strategy, as recommended by the Committee in its Statement on “Poverty and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights” (E/C.12/2001/10). 28. The Committee notes with serious concern that, according to a 2008 study on food prices, about 12 per cent of households or 1.7 million individuals were food-insecure and most affected by food price increases and that these numbers could increase to 2.8 million during the lean season. (art. 11) The Committee recommends to the State party to strengthen its strategic interventions in response to the alarming situation of increasing food insecurity. The Committee requests the State party in its next periodic report to provide detailed information on the results of these strategic interventions. 29. The Committee is deeply concerned about the continued delay in the adoption of a national housing policy in the State party, and about the large number of urban dwellers living in slums, without adequate housing. (art. 11) The Committee urges the State party to adopt as a matter of priority, a National Housing Policy that would upgrade poor urban settlements and ensure security of tenure, with clear institutional responsibilities at the national, provincial and local levels, and adequate financial resources for its effective implementation.