2.8 billion people around the world are deprived of decent housing (United Nations)

 

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Annual Report 2024, released Monday, states that some 2.8 billion people worldwide lack access to adequate housing.

Of these, 1.1 billion live in slums or informal settlements, representing "the main challenge to sustainable urban development," according to the report. About 90% of slum dwellers live in Africa and Asia, where there is a housing shortage of 170 million units.

"Climate change, conflict, and natural disasters continue to displace millions of people, forcing them to leave their homes in search of safety, stability, and better living conditions," Anna Claudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, said in the report.

The UN agency estimates that 318 million people are homeless, roughly the population of the United States.

Worldwide, "one in four people live in conditions that compromise their health, safety, and well-being," according to a report by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

Fourteen percent of urban dwellers and 40 percent of rural dwellers lack access to drinking water, and two out of five people lack access to sanitation.

The report states that "safe and managed sanitation is a fundamental component of human development and is often used as a measure of progress in combating poverty, disease, and premature death."

Anna Claudia Rossbach called for "rethinking urban policies, land use, legislation, and financing to prioritize housing and basic services as key levers for climate action and sustainable development."

By 2040, two billion urban dwellers are expected to be exposed to significant increases in temperature.

The UN-Habitat Assembly of Member States adopted on Friday the programme's Strategic Plan for 2026-2029, which focuses on access to housing, land, and basic services, such as drinking water and sanitation.