Approximately 117 million people worldwide live in forced displacement due to conflict, violence, and persecution.
Modern.az reports that this was stated by Berham Salih, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, during his speech at the panel session titled "Housing at the Center of Post-Crisis Recovery and Reconstruction" within the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku.
He noted that climate change and natural disasters further increase the risk of displacement every year, and for many people, temporary shelter turns into long-term uncertain living conditions.
"The experience of various countries such as Chad, Brazil, Jordan, Colombia, Turkey, and Syria shows one truth.
As for the recovery process, it begins with these people having a place to live."
He also drew attention to the heavy burden carried by communities:
"Many communities, despite their limited resources, demonstrate solidarity by sharing their homes, land, and services with forcibly displaced people."
B. Salih stated that the increasing number of forcibly displaced people further increases pressure on urban infrastructure and social solidarity:
"Without access to housing, people's livelihood opportunities weaken, access to education and health services becomes difficult, and self-sufficiency opportunities decrease.
The issue of housing should no longer be considered only as an element of humanitarian aid, but as a main direction of recovery and reconstruction policy."
According to him, the concept of home does not begin only with the construction of walls:
"It begins with access to land, the right to safe living, and documents that allow people to work, live, and rebuild their lives."
He also emphasized that the "Human Settlement Pledge" initiative adopted within the Global Refugee Forum forms a new approach to the problem of displacement:
"This approach views forced displacement as an opportunity for inclusive planning, local development, and shared prosperity.
When refugees are provided with housing and freedom of movement, they contribute to the economic and social development of host communities."
B. Salih also added that forcibly displaced people are not a burden, but part of the solution:
"Examples include the transformation of camps into settlements in Kenya and Ethiopia, inclusive approaches in Chad and Mauritania, as well as municipal initiatives in European cities.
Cities are no longer just places that manage refugee flows, but also key platforms where protection, inclusivity, and solutions are formed. Municipalities cannot bear this burden alone. They need a clear division of powers, sustainable financial resources, and strong cooperation with governments, development partners, the private sector, and communities."
He concluded by noting that a transition from temporary shelters to sustainable housing solutions, from short-term approaches to long-term strategies, is necessary:
"Now the goal is not only to restore what was lost, but to build more resilient, inclusive, and strong communities."
