Odishatv Bureau
United Nations: With countries across the world, including India, staking claim to being home to the seven billionth baby, UN Chief Ban Ki Moon said his office would not be able to pin-point who the world`s seven billionth inhabitant is and where the baby was born.

"I am not in a position to make a firm clarification on who is the seven billionth baby," Moon said in response to a question by PTI at a press conference here to mark the `day of seven billion.`

In India, the birth of baby girl Nargis near Lucknow was being marked as the landmark moment in world population. Nargis was born to Ajay and Vinita Yadav, residents of Dhanaur village in Mall block in Uttar Pradesh`s capital.

Celebrations were also being held in the Philippines, where Danica May Camacho was named the seven billionth baby.

"I have read both reports coming from Manila and India (on the birth of the babies). Let us see," Moon said amid laughter.

United Nations Population Fund Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin said the birth of the seven billionth baby should "sensitise" the world about the challenges and the opportunity the landmark moment has to offer.

"We have not annointed any child any where (on being the seven billionth baby)," Osotimehin said adding that it is possible that people in different countries claim and celebrate the birth of the historic baby.

Moon added that the day of `Seven Billion` is not about one newborn or one generation but about "our entire human family."

"Even with seven billion - the gap between rich and poor is increasing, and in the poorest countries extreme poverty, food insecurity, inequality, high death rate and high birth rates are linked in a vicious cycle. So we have to address all these issues in a comprehensive manner," he said.

The baby has been born into a world of "terrible contradictions" that has plenty of food but one billion people go hungry, lavish lifestyles for a few but poverty for many others, huge advances in medicine while mothers die everyday in childbirth and billions spent on weapons to kill people instead of keeping them safe.

"What kind of world has baby seven billion been born into? What kind of world do we want for our children in the future?" Moon said. He urged member states, business communities and civil society to work together and chart a way towards sustainable development for a world of seven billion.

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