Erfan Ali says global housing crisis requires cooperation to solve

The global housing crisis currently covers all countries and continents without exception, and this problem can only be solved through cooperation, Erfan Ali, Director of the Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), said at the event titled "Bridges for Cooperation: In Search of Best Solutions for Sustainable Housing and Resilient Cities - Voices of Cities" held within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

According to him, it is important to build cooperation bridges between cities in order to search for the best solutions for sustainable housing and resilient cities: "Today, millions of people are homeless or live in conditions that do not meet modern standards. In such a situation, we should think not about any solution, but about the best and most sustainable solutions. Temporary and partial solutions are no longer sufficient, because life, technologies, and people's needs are changing rapidly. Only best practices and effective solutions can create a solid foundation for sustainable development."

Ali stated that dialogue among urban planning specialists, local authorities, academic circles, governments, international organizations, financial institutions, and the private sector is of particular importance: "Only through such cooperation is it possible to form a common understanding of the most effective solutions related to urbanization and the housing crisis. Successful experiences of megacities can serve as examples for other cities, while mistakes made in planning and strategies should also serve as lessons for other cities."

According to him, the experience of cities such as Moscow, Rio de Janeiro, Kuala Lumpur, Izmir, and Shanghai is of significant importance in this regard: "The organization has placed housing, land, and basic services at the center of its activities for the purpose of promoting sustainable urbanization and is working towards creating cooperation mechanisms among various parties."