Habitat for Humanity
Christian charity Habitat for Humanity has launched an appeal to raise money for its work with the 827 million people worldwide who are struggling in slums.
The charity warned that families and communities are becoming trapped in the poverty cycle due to the rapid urbanisation of cities and increasing slum conditions.
Habitat for Humanity gave as an example a Bihari family in Bangladesh. Kamal and Afsana live with their four-year-old daughter in a single room with a mud floor, no window and no toilet.
The Biharis were stripped of citizenship after the Bangladeshi war of independence in 1971. They were originally put into camps, but these have since grown into one overpopulated slum.
In Millat, Habitat for Humanity is partnering with the three charities Arup, Architects without Frontiers and AusAID to help people meet their housing needs. This includes building homes and giving the community access to water and sanitation (more information from: www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk/appeal).
