UN Warns of Legal Risks for Internally Displaced People in Informal Settlements in Afghanistan

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Afghanistan has warned that internally displaced people living in informal settlements face serious legal threats, particularly regarding housing and land ownership. The organization emphasized that the absence of clear legal frameworks has made the situation of these families even more vulnerable.

In a report published on Monday, March 15, it was stated that informal settlements have become the main residential areas for internally displaced people. Many of these families have been forced to leave their original homes due to war, instability, and economic challenges, settling on the outskirts of cities and on lands without official documentation.

According to the report, the climate crisis in Afghanistan has further exacerbated these challenges. Natural events such as floods and consecutive droughts have placed residents of these areas at greater risk and have created conditions conducive to the spread of related diseases.

While the Taliban administration is responsible for managing urban affairs and addressing the situation of internally displaced people, the lack of clear policies in the land and housing sector and the shortage of effective support programs have heightened concerns about the future of these vulnerable families. International organizations have consistently stressed the need to ensure the basic rights of internally displaced people and to develop sustainable solutions for their housing.