On World Habitat Day, UN Emphasises 'Housing for All’

Every year, the world celebrates World Habitat Day on the first Monday of October. Designated by the United Nations, the day is celebrated to stress the need for adequate shelter for everyone. The first-ever World Habitat Day was celebrated in 1986 and was hosted by Nairobi. This year, the UN has chosen "Housing For All — A Better Urban Future" as the theme. As per the UN, housing is a human right and enables people to live a better, safer life. António Guterres, UN secretary-general said that during the pandemic, several people who do not have adequate facilities in their homes have been struggling. He added that while people who do not have proper sanitation facilities in their homes are susceptible to infections, they also pose a danger to people living around them. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, people were asked to stay indoors to prevent the further spread of coronavirus. While people who had a roof over their head remained locked in, people who are forced to live on the streets remained exposed to coronavirus. Not only this, people living in slums struggle to battle coronavirus due to lack of basic facilities like washrooms and hand-washing stations. The UN wrote, "Some 3 billion people lack basic hand-washing facilities. This means millions of people worldwide are more likely to experience poor health due to the absence of basic services and exposure to multiple socio-economic and environmental hazards." UN argues the importance of housing, but it also emphasises the need for adequate housing. As per UN, housing does not just equal having a roof over one's head. It also means having an establishment that is furnished with proper hygiene and sanitary measures. The UN stated, “It should also be located in a place that enables residents to access public green and open spaces, employment opportunities, health-care services, schools, childcare centres and other social facilities."