UN-Habitat Warns Majority of Kabul Residents Live in Informal Settlements Vulnerable to Climate Change
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has warned that four out of every five residents in Kabul live in informal settlements—areas deprived of basic urban services and highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
According to the report, Kabul, as Afghanistan’s largest city, accommodates more than 40 percent of the country’s urban population. However, unplanned urban growth, lack of standard infrastructure, and expansion of informal neighborhoods have intensified risks such as flooding, water shortages, and other climate-related crises.
UN-Habitat emphasizes that residents of these areas face greater exposure to climate change hazards than others, highlighting the urgent need for targeted measures to enhance urban climate resilience.
Meanwhile, authorities under Taliban administration have yet to present a clear and comprehensive plan to address the urban housing crisis and reduce climate vulnerability in Kabul. This gap has heightened concerns among international organizations and city residents, underscoring the imperative for accountability and concrete action.
