A devastating blast ripped through the Port of Beirut on Aug. 4, 2020 destroying entire sections of the city. Officials estimate that more than 170,000 people live in homes that need to be reconstructed. A year later, investigation findings have not been disclosed and no one has been held accountable.
Cairo will host Habitat for Humanity’s first edition of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Housing Forum, November 21-23, 2022. The three-day event will convene housing contributors and stakeholders from the public and private sectors, advocates, academics, researchers, microfinance experts and representatives from local and international NGOS from the MENA region.
Habitat for Humanity International is calling on delegates at the COP27 climate change conference to prioritize adequate and affordable housing, particularly for the most vulnerable people, to achieve a net-zero future for carbon emissions and meet the adaptation needs of human settlements.
The first-ever Middle East and North Africa, or MENA, Housing Forum started today in Cairo, under the patronage of the Egyptian Ministry of Housing. Over the next three days, stakeholders will discuss ongoing housing challenges, including the persistence of informal settlements, the rise in refugee numbers, the increase of vulnerability in the wake of COVID-19, and the region’s role in climate action following the COP27 climate change conference. With 10 in-person and five virtual sessions scheduled, the hybrid forum is expected to attract over 500 participants.
Housing for All Egyptians, by Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund from Egypt (Public Policies category), The Housing Monitor by Public Works Studio from Lebanon (Best Practices category) and Recyblock by Zelij Invent from Morocco (ShelterTech category), are the winners of the MENA Housing Forum Innovations Awards 2022.
Every $1 million in construction output creates an average of 97 jobs in emerging markets, economists at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, and the University of Washington found in the report commissioned by Habitat for Humanity’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter.
The Europe Housing Forum 2021 takes place online on November 16-19, 2021. The importance of housing as a driver of economic growth and sustainability in human settlements will be one of the central discussions during the Forum. The Europe Housing Forum aims to bring together different stakeholders to discuss solutions to complex housing problems in the region. Sessions take place in the afternoons.
In the modest embrace of their Holboca commune apartment, the Cretu family finds joy in the simple things: the children’s daily tales from school, shared meals, and laughter. Andreea, a nurse, and Marius, a construction worker, have built a life that honors commitment and love.
In 2012, Mustafa’s typical day as a cab driver in Syria took an abrupt turn. During a routine exchange with a passenger about the ongoing war, he made a passing jest about a statue of the Syrian president. This offhand remark led to his arrest and brutal imprisonment two days later.
Climate change poses a significant threat to housing security, particularly for low-income communities. Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods and wildfires, are becoming more frequent and severe. Furthermore, sea level rise poses an increasing threat to families and their homes in low-lying coastal regions.