Harmonious cities for better living

Most of you may be living in cities and towns. Cities and towns hold an important place in people's lives with most people who had been living in rural and remote villages migrating to these areas in search of better lives.

These areas which are of such importance to us will be the focus when World Habitat Day is commemorated on October 6, the first Monday of October, under the theme 'Harmonious Cities'.

The activities of the Day are spearheaded around the world by UN-HABITAT, the Human Settlements Programme. The main celebrations will take place in Luanda, the capital of Angola, and will showcase how the country, after years of conflict, is progressing in establishing harmonious cities through improvements in urban infrastructure and services and new urban development structures.

The theme was selected by the United Nations to raise awareness about rapid urbanisation and its impact on the environment.

'Harmonious Cities' would also be the theme of UN-HABITAT's main report in 2008 and for the fourth session of the World Urban Forum which is to take place in Nanjing, China from November 3 to 7.

The World Habitat Day was inaugurated in 1986 by the UN to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter for all.

It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

Even basic human habitats should have access to facilities such as water, sanitation, electricity, dental healthcare and safe streets, but some areas, especially in developing countries, don't have access to these. These issues would be addressed at the many events connected with World Habitat Day.