IIED research director calls for change in approach to displaced persons

The humanitarian sector needs to fundamentally rethink its approach to displaced persons, Lucy Earle, Director of Research and Strategic Impact at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), said at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

"For too long, the humanitarian system has treated displaced people as temporary residents, delaying solutions to problems of sanitation, infrastructure, and public spaces. Once a person has established a life in the city, they may be reluctant to return. We must stop viewing these people as temporary and start treating them as full-fledged urban citizens," Earle emphasized.