The United Nations has called for global collaboration to strengthen urban resilience and promote inclusive cities in the face of escalating conflicts, mass displacement, and climate change.
The appeal was made on Monday during the commemoration of World Habitat Day 2025, held at the UN Office in Nairobi, Kenya, and streamed virtually to participants around the world.
World Habitat Day, observed annually on the first Monday of October, brings together governments, urban planners, and development partners to reflect on the state of human settlements and to uphold the right of everyone to adequate housing.
Delivering a message on behalf of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, Stephen Jackson, said that cities are bearing the brunt of today’s crises.
Guterres highlighted that conflict, political instability, and the climate emergency have forced 123 million people from their homes, many seeking safety in towns and cities that are already overstretched.
“About one in eight people live in informal settlements, and more than 300 million have no home at all,” he stated.
He warned that essential services such as healthcare, water, and transportation are under intense strain, heightening the risk of further crises. However, he noted that cities are also hubs of innovation and opportunity, capable of driving inclusive economic growth and fostering cultural vitality.
Guterres praised the leadership of mayors and local authorities, as well as the resilience of women, young people, and urban communities.
“A city is more than bricks and mortar — it is the promise of home. Let’s build stronger cities that ensure safety and belonging for all,” he said.
Kor Ming, Malaysia’s Minister of Housing and Local Government and President of the UN-Habitat Assembly, echoed the Secretary-General’s message. He stressed that moments of crisis present opportunities to rebuild better and stronger.
Citing UN data, he revealed that 182 million people have been displaced by conflict and political instability, with 60 percent seeking refuge in cities. This, he said, places enormous pressure on urban systems and requires renewed multilateral cooperation and resource mobilization.
Kor Ming drew attention to the situation in Asia and the Pacific, where rapid urbanization and ongoing conflicts have made local governments first responders to humanitarian and development challenges.
“Member states must strengthen cooperation and equip city leaders with the tools needed to ensure no one and no place is left behind. As we invest in basic services for refugee camps, we must extend these rights to host communities as well,” he said.
He also called for sustained support for UN-Habitat, emphasizing that housing must go beyond shelter to provide dignified, sustainable living conditions, as resilient cities cannot exist without adequate homes for all.
UN-Habitat Executive Director, Anacláudia Rossbach, highlighted the devastating impact of disasters on urban infrastructure. She noted that each year, over 92,000 essential facilities are damaged or destroyed, causing 1.6 million service disruptions globally.
Rossbach explained that the global housing crisis currently affects nearly three billion people, with over one billion living in slums or informal settlements and more than 300 million experiencing homelessness.
“We must place housing, land, and basic services at the heart of urban crisis response. Humanitarian aid alone is not enough — people want to rebuild their lives and homes as quickly as possible,” she said.
She described local governments as both “firefighters” on the frontlines of emergencies and “architects” of long-term resilience. Strengthening local governance and linking humanitarian and development efforts, she noted, are central to UN-Habitat’s 2026–2029 Strategic Plan, which prioritizes crisis response in contexts of displacement, disaster, conflict, and climate vulnerability.
During the event, the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award was presented to recipients from Nigeria, Lebanon, Portugal, and Mexico, recognizing their outstanding contributions to urban development, including leadership in post-conflict reconstruction and the provision of shelter.