BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 20. Over 455,000
buildings have been constructed in Türkiye’s earthquake-prone
areas, Hasan Suver, Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization
and Climate Change of Türkiye, made the remarks during the
conference “Strengthening Urban Earthquake Preparedness: UN
Solutions for Safer and More Sustainable Cities”, at the 13th World
Urban Forum (WUF13), Trend reports.


He emphasized that the construction efforts extend beyond
residential buildings, encompassing complex living spaces with
integrated infrastructure, social facilities, green areas,
energy-efficient designs, and environmentally sustainable
approaches.


“Financial instruments are also critical in strengthening urban
resilience. In this context, the social housing initiative,
targeting 500,000 units across 81 provinces and 100,000 units in
Istanbul, supports access to safe and affordable housing,” he
said.


Today marks the fourth day of WUF13 in Baku.


The first day included a ministerial meeting dedicated to the
New Urban Agenda, a ministerial roundtable, assemblies for women
and civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban
prosperity. An official ceremony marking the raising of the UN and
Azerbaijani flags also took place.


The second day stood out for the inaugural Leaders' Summit,
featuring high-level discussions on the global housing crisis,
urbanization policy, and urban resilience. Concurrently, the
opening of the Mexico City pavilion took place, serving as a
significant platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin
American region and preparing for WUF14.


The third day of WUF13 featured a comprehensive program of
events covering the global housing crisis, the formation of safe
and inclusive cities, climate resilience, artificial intelligence
and urban governance, green urbanization, social equity, and
sustainable transport.


WUF13, which has attracted more than 40,000 registered
participants from 182 countries, will continue until May 22. Held
under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and
communities,” the forum brings together governments, international
organizations, experts, and representatives of civil society to
strengthen global cooperation in the field of sustainable urban
development.