Lana Barreto: Destruction of cadastral archives in Gaza complicates restoration of housing rights

The destruction of cadastral archives in Gaza is complicating the restoration of the population's housing rights.

Report informs that Lana Barreto, global shelter and settlements adviser at the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), said this during WUF13.

According to her, land institutions and authorities in Gaza are gradually resuming work to issue documents to the population, but the large-scale destruction of cadastral records significantly limits people's ability to defend their housing and land rights.

Barreto noted that repeated population displacement could lead to the emergence of informal settlements, the degradation of the urban environment and the formation of semi-permanent areas for displaced people. According to her, women, children and elderly people remain particularly vulnerable in these conditions, as they are most severely affected by prolonged displacement and the loss of documentation.

She stressed that housing recovery in Gaza should not be limited to the construction of homes alone.

"Simply rebuilding homes will not restore the normal functioning of the city, social cohesion and community life. The population's housing and land rights must be guaranteed," Barreto said.