Approximately 3 billion people worldwide live in inadequate housing conditions, with over 1 billion residing in slums and more than 300 million facing homelessness. This is no longer an isolated issue but a systemic and global crisis that requires immediate international attention.
Anaklaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), made these remarks during a press conference for the official opening of the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), Operative Information Center-OMM reports. She stated that the challenges facing modern cities are interconnected and reveal deep structural problems. According to the Executive Director, the issue is not limited to a shortage of living spaces; it also encompasses essential matters of inclusivity, opportunity, and human dignity.
Rossbach noted that while housing is an infrastructure matter, its proper management and financing are the collective responsibility of governments and international partners. "Housing is a fundamental human right, and time is limited to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals," she emphasized. The World Urban Forum, established by the United Nations in 2001, serves as the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization. Azerbaijan has been increasingly active in this sphere, sharing its own experiences in sustainable urban development and the "smart city" reconstruction projects currently being implemented in liberated territories such as Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Zangilan.
