Thailand: Why tackling substandard housing should be a top priority

The chairman of Habitat for Humanity Thailand, Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, analyses for the Bangkok Post the linkages between urbanisation, poverty alleviation, disaster risk reduction and economic development, and the absolute imperative of tackling substandard housing now, while more of the Asia-Pacific region's population is at risk from natural disasters than ever before.

"Doing so will tackle many challenges at the same time: fewer families living in poverty and safer communities across the region; casualties and damage incurred in the aftermath of a disaster reduced and economic loss minimised," he adds.