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Climate Change and Housing:

Marginalized Neighborhoods Are The Most Affected

Maya Saba Ayon
Rayan Alaeddine
 06/03/2024

The adverse impacts of climate change have significantly increased the vulnerability of urban poverty, particularly among those residing in informal areas. This susceptibility is worsened by their restricted access to adequate housing, essential services, and social safety networks. Consequently, these communities face a disproportionate burden of climate-related challenges, encountering heightened risks and greater difficulty in recovering from environmental disasters. By using Lebanon as a case study, the article maps the geographic distribution of some informal settlements, highlighting their precarious locations prone to flooding, landslides, rising sea levels, proximity to highways, etc. Additionally, the article uncovers how poor-quality housing offers little protection against flooding or extreme temperatures, further exacerbating the adverse effects on people’s health and well-being.

 

Maya Saba Ayon

Legal Researcher and Casework Manager

Maya is a law graduate from the Filière Francophone de Droit. She is a legal researcher with a focus on Housing laws, the local housing legal framework and its compliance with international human rights standards. A Casework Manager, Maya is the link between the Housing Monitor and The Right to Housing Legal Task Force, where she is tasked with legal referrals, following up on legal interventions and documenting their results.
 

Rayan Alaeddine

Researcher

Rayan is a civil engineer holding a Master’s degree in public works and road planning from the Lebanese University (2019), and a dual Master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from the University of Lille-France and the Lebanese University (2021). Using a variety of research and fieldwork tools, she is interested in discovering the dynamics of the urban environment, while adapting it to the fair and just use of people and all living creatures. Her work also includes monitoring and observing the changes of various urban elements and factors.
Housing Natural Resources Lebanon
 
 
 
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