Baku: 'Housing policy should be implemented together with land management and urban planning reforms,' the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Anacl¡udia Rossbach, remarked during a dialogue session titled 'The Global Housing Crisis - What's the Plan?' held within the framework of WUF13, APA-Economics reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Rossbach highlighted the alarming statistics that 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, while over 3 billion are without sanitation services. She also raised concerns about the weak protection of land ownership rights, which leaves millions of families at risk of displacement and forced evictions.

Rossbach further noted that by 2050, the urban population is expected to surge by another 2 billion people, predominantly in Asian and African countries. This anticipated growth underscores the urgency of addressing the global housing crisis with a multifaceted approach.

The UN-Habitat chief asserted that there is no single solution to the housing crisis; rather, a combination of strategies is necessary. She advocated for a comprehensive approach to housing policy that incorporates legal, land management, and urban planning reforms.

Rossbach also stressed the importance of improving informal settlements and strengthening land management as crucial priorities in tackling the housing crisis.