WUF13 Enables Strengthening Actions On Housing Crisis - President Of UN General Assembly

(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 18. The 13th session of the World Forum of Cities (WUF13) enables strengthening actions on the housing crisis, President of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock said in her address at the opening ceremony of WUF13 in Baku, Trend reports.

"Affordable, safe, and decent housing is a fundamental human right. It's the foundation of dignity, health, security, and opportunity. Yet today, this foundation remains inaccessible to too many people: more than 1.1 billion people still live in informal settlements or slums, and more than 300 million are homeless," she said.

Baerbock noted that the consequences extend far beyond housing itself.

"Without safe housing, health deteriorates, education is disrupted, insecurity increases, inequality is entrenched, and communities become more vulnerable to climate shocks and disasters. That's why the 13th session of the World Urban Forum is taking place at an important time. It offers an opportunity to strengthen action on the housing crisis while linking this work to the broader goal of sustainable urbanization," she said.

According to her, there are no easy solutions to a crisis of this magnitude. Building more homes is necessary, but it alone isn't enough. A systems approach is needed that integrates housing with infrastructure, basic services, climate resilience, financing, and inclusive planning.

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