Baku: Facts consistently show that when refugees have access to housing and freedom of movement, they contribute economically and socially to the communities that host them, Barham Salih, former President of Iraq and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) official said during his speech at the event titled 'Housing at the Center of Recovery and Reconstruction After Crisis' held within the framework of WUF13, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Salih stated, 'Internally displaced persons are not a burden, they are part of the solution. We are already seeing that this is possible - from camps turning into cities in Kenya and Ethiopia, to inclusive approaches in Chad and Mauritania, as well as strong municipal leadership in Europe.'

Salih emphasized that cities are evolving beyond merely managing migration. They are becoming spaces that offer protection, inclusiveness, and solutions. He pointed out that municipalities cannot undertake this responsibility on their own. They require authority, stable financing, and robust partnerships with development partners, the private sector, and communities to effectively support refugees and displaced persons.