El blog de Maria

Anna Tibaijuka

Some recent words by her  on the occasion of World Habitat Day

The current housing finance crisis in the developed world has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that in matters of delivering adequate shelter for all, the Government has a key and decisive role to play. It must take the lead both in providing land for affordable housing development, and also in promoting and supervising housing finance systems that are pro-poor and will cater for all income groups. The Government must ensure that the population is financially literate to take on housing loans to avoid widespread fore-closure and the social disorder they unleash, when they happen.

We in the United Nations system have a responsibility to remind all countries, whether rich or poor, that they are not immune from the impacts of poverty. And that is why, as we all worry how the global financial crisis will hit us as ordinary people, we must remind all again that investment in basic urban services and adequate shelter is essential. When we get it right we derive economic, social and health benefits for all.

And specifically on Angola, these words to his President:

Let the money also be used to provide a place where every child finds not only a school but also a playground; let it be used to build a place where young people find not only sporting and recreation centres, but also vending sites to start small businesses; and, yes, a place too where expectant and nursing mothers can easily find health care facilities not too far from home. 

A healthy way to focus our worries far beyond our nose.

By Maria L. de Castro

web@costaluzlawyers.es

www.costaluzlawyers.es