HRH Premier addresses world on World Habitat Day

Manama, Oct. 2 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime, Minister has urged the International Community to go faster with the enactment of formerly – agreed sustainable development initiatives, ensuring that focus should be given to the neediest communities. He called on the world to continue a collective human effort to improve living conditions of dwellers of the war-torn areas. “The tragic events that are taking place in many parts of the world will have dire consequences on the present and future of humankind, the Premier said in his address to the world marking the UN World Habitat Day, celebrated worldwide on October 3 under the slogan “Housing at the Centre”. “The situation would be seriously worse had the international community retreated from taking necessary steps to find effective cooperative mechanisms to stop bloodshed, save lives and direct resources and efforts towards achieving a secure, stable and sustainable life for all human beings ” he added. HRH Premier stressed the importance of adopting effective visions and policies to counter development challenges, particularly conflicts and terrorism. He called on the International Community to work harder for a world free from threats, through the adoption of sustainable development programmes meant to achieve humankind’s aspirations. HRH the Prime Minister reiterated that circulated footage of painful scenes of the displaced migrants who fled areas of conflicts across the borders must hurt human conscience and urge all human beings to exert their best efforts to help these peoples live in security and stability. He asserted that the World Habitat Day is an occasion to highlight how developed, advanced and fair the world could evenly be if human wills and efforts were united in terms of construction and reconstruction for the good and benefit of all humanity. He pointed out that the United Nations adoption of the “Housing at the Centre” as a slogan for this year’s World Habitat Day, cast on the world a responsibility to move forward for further cooperation and coordination to face the unfortunate situation taking place in some countries in the region; in terms of chaos led to the displacement of thousands of families and deprived them of their right to life in dignity and security. He also asserted that Bahrain has worked very early on the issue of housing and set plans and allocated budgets in order to provide adequate housing for the Bahraini citizen. He said it was one of the pioneers in launching housing projects in the region in the sixties of the last century to create integrated services in modern cities. He stressed that the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in light of the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, has made the housing issue a focal point by allocating budgets to finance the construction of many housing projects, and work is still continuing to build more cities in various areas Kingdom-wide. "Bahrain joins all national efforts with deep belief that the protection of mankind and the implementation of stability, security and prosperity of all nations depend to a large extent on a collective human effort," he said. HRH the Premier pointed that the celebration of World Habitat Day coincided this year with the celebration of the Kingdom of Bahrain of granting former UN Habitat Programme executive director Dr Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, in recognition of her efforts and large contributions to supporting the efforts of countries in terms of sustainable urban development. He affirmed that the Khalifa bin Salman Award for Sustainable Development reflects Bahrain's strong commitment and desire to back global development efforts. It is worth noting that the United Nations World Habitat Day is annually celebrated on the first Monday of October to reflect on the state of human settlements and people’s right to sufficient shelter. It also aims to remind people that they are responsible for the habitat of future next generations.