UN-Habitat: 14% of Ukraine's housing stock damaged as result of war

Ukraine faces a number of systemic challenges in the housing sector, including an aging housing stock, a shortage of social and affordable housing, and a lack of regulation of the rental market, Mariana Voita, deputy head of the UN-Habitat Country Program in Ukraine, said at WUF13 in Baku, Report informs.

According to her, Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has triggered massive internal displacement and caused a serious crisis in the country's housing sector.

"Despite the return of some people over the past year and a half, there are still approximately 4.7 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine and approximately 6 million Ukrainians registered as refugees abroad," noted the UN-Habitat representative.

She emphasized that the most severe destruction has been recorded in the eastern regions of Ukraine, as well as in areas around Kyiv.

According to her, many residents of the country are currently trying to stay as close to their homes as possible, despite ongoing shelling.

She cited Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, as an example, where approximately 50% of the housing stock has been damaged or destroyed.

"After the outbreak of full-scale war, Kharkiv's population declined sharply, but today the city is once again hosting a large number of internally displaced persons," she said.

The UN-Habitat representative also noted that approximately 14% of Ukraine's housing stock has been damaged as a result of the war.

According to her, the right to housing includes not only owning a home but also access to services and infrastructure. and a safe urban environment.

"We collaborate with municipalities, helping with recovery planning and identifying priority areas for redevelopment," she added.