By Faridat Salifu
World leaders and urban development experts have marked the 2025 World Habitat Day with a renewed call for collective action to strengthen urban resilience and ensure inclusive, safe, and sustainable cities in the face of mounting global crises.
The event, held on Monday, October 6, at the United Nations Office in Nairobi, Kenya, brought together policymakers, mayors, and development partners under the theme of urban inclusion amid conflict, displacement, and climate change.
World Habitat Day, observed every first Monday of October, is dedicated to reflecting on the state of cities and towns and reaffirming the right of all people to adequate shelter.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a message delivered by Stephen Jackson, UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, said cities were now at the epicentre of global challenges.
He said conflict, instability, and the climate crisis had displaced 123 million people worldwide, with most seeking safety in urban areas already under immense strain.
“About one in eight people live in informal settlements, and more than 300 million have no home at all,” Guterres said.
He warned that essential services such as healthcare, water, and transport were overstretched, but added that cities also hold the key to inclusive growth and sustainable recovery.
“A city is more than bricks and mortar; it is the promise of home,” he said. “Let’s build stronger cities that ensure safety and belonging for us all.”
Kor Ming, Malaysia’s Minister of Housing and Local Government and President of the UN-Habitat Assembly, said the world must seize opportunities in crisis to “build back better and stronger.”
He noted that over 120 active conflicts and record levels of displacement were putting pressure on local governments and urban systems.
“With 182 million people displaced globally — 60 per cent of them in cities — we must strengthen cooperation and resource mobilisation to ensure no one and no place is left behind,” he said.
Kor Ming urged governments to empower local leaders and extend essential services not only to refugee camps but also to host communities.
UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach said disasters damaged or destroyed more than 92,000 essential facilities and caused 1.6 million service disruptions each year.
She warned that nearly three billion people were affected by the housing crisis, with over one billion living in slums and informal settlements and more than 300 million experiencing homelessness.
“Humanitarian aid alone is insufficient,” she said. “People want to regain their homes and rebuild their lives as quickly as possible.”
Rossbach said UN-Habitat’s 2026–2029 Strategic Plan prioritises crisis response, focusing on displacement, disaster recovery, and climate fragility while strengthening local governance and resilience.
The commemoration also featured the presentation of the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award to recipients from Nigeria, Lebanon, Portugal, and Mexico for their contributions to urban development, shelter provision, and post-conflict reconstruction.
