Safe and secure housing should be no. 1 priority in Asia-Pacific, says Habitat for Humanity
Mon, 4 Jul 2011 06:39 GMT
Safe and secure housing should be no. 1 priority in Asia-Pacific, says Habitat for Humanity
+ Nearly 70% of people affected by natural disasters in the first half of 2011 are in Asia-Pacific
+ Over 1 million people in Thailand affected by natural disasters already in 2011
+ Regional Housing Forum focus on shelter solutions in an age of climate change and disasters
Bangkok, Thailand 4th July 2011 – Cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding and the other adverse affects of a changing climate are becoming more common and are affecting more people across the Asia-Pacific region as populations grow. Without better designed, better made housing, the affects will be ever more deadly, says a top leader of Habitat for Humanity International, the global non-governmental organization specializing in meeting the housing needs of the poor.
“The growing populations of Asia-Pacific countries need housing that doesn’t collapse in earthquakes or cyclones, and can be saved from rising floodwaters or volcanic ash. With 60 per cent of the world’s slum population living in the Asia-Pacific region, safe and secure housing has to be a number one priority,” says Rick Hathaway, Habitat for Humanity International’s Asia-Pacific vice-president.
Looking at effective solutions to protect Asia’s poor from the affects of natural disasters will be the core theme of the 3rd Asia-Pacific Housing Forum. The forum, that takes place once every two years, is to be held in Bangkok this September, and brings government representatives, NGOs, academics and private companies together to share experiences and propose solutions to the large, and growing, problem of inadequate housing.
“Millions of people across Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region are in need of somewhere to call home. This means more than somewhere that belongs to them, where children can learn and families can lead healthy lives. It also means housing structures ready for natural disasters,” Dr Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, Chairman of the Board, Habitat for Humanity Thailand. “This is a huge challenge and region-wide sustainable shelter solutions are desperately needed.”
Some 800 participants, from more than 30 countries, are expected to attend the 3rd Asia-Pacific Housing Forum from 7-9 September 2011. Registrations are currently being accepted at aphousingforum.org. This year the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum will also include an exhibition, featuring technical and financial services and products that address shelter needs.
Confirmed speakers and contributors include:
- Honorable Anna Tibaijuka, Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements of the United Republic of Tanzania and former Executive Director of UN-HABITAT
- Ashvin Dayal, Managing Director (Asia), Rockefeller Foundation
- Young-Woo Park, Regional Director and Representative for Asia and the Pacific, UNEP
- Trevor Pierce, Head of FX Trading (Asia-Pacific), INTL Global Currencies
- André Herzog, Senior Urban Specialist, World Bank Institute
- Teofisto Guingona III, Senator, Republic of the Philippines
Since the start of the year, Thailand alone has already experienced a drought, an earthquake, flooding and landslides, leaving around 50 people dead and affecting more than 1 million people.
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Notes to editors
Media interested in attending the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum, or setting up interviews with speakers/contributors, are asked to contact hholloway@habitat.org / +65 9068 1892
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global non-government organization that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people. Habitat has experience in post-disaster reconstruction - in the Asia-Pacific region, Habitat has helped close to 25,000 tsunami-hit families to rebuild their lives following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
About Habitat for Humanity Thailand
Habitat for Humanity Thailand is a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty housing and homelessness by constructing simple, decent and affordable houses with low-income families. HFH Thailand welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1998, Habitat for Humanity Thailand has provided 6,000 simple, decent and affordable houses for families in need and served more than 30,000 people. HFH Thailand has served over 1,900 families in its response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
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