Sultan Barakat: Solving housing problems in conflict zones requires individual approach

Strategies for addressing housing issues in post-conflict and crisis zones cannot be universal, as the effectiveness of reconstruction processes is directly determined by the political environment, the nature of the conflict, and the characteristics of a particular society, Sultan Barakat, Professor of Public Policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Professor at University of York, said during the panel discussion "Housing as the Foundation of Crisis Recovery and Reconstruction" held within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum 13 in Baku, according to Report.

"Methods for resolving housing issues in conflict zones must be adapted as much as possible to specific conditions," Barakat stated.

He explained that in countries and regions where a political agreement has been reached and a government with a clear development plan is functioning, the process of restoring housing stock becomes more manageable and largely comes down to defining strategies, financing mechanisms, and technical solutions.

"At the same time, in situations where conflict remains unresolved or is driven by an agenda of ethnic cleansing, this issue becomes extremely sensitive for all parties involved. We must stop discussing housing in generalized global terms - each case requires a separate approach," the expert emphasized.