margin; Today's problem; The threat of tomorrow.
The publication of new statistics on the situation of marginalization in the districts of Tehran and Alborz once again raised the alarm of the expansion of informal settlements around the metropolises; So that 36% of the population of Tehran district and about a third of the population of Alborez live in marginal areas. This figure, along with the estimate of over 6 million people living on the outskirts of the country, shows that the problem is not limited to providing housing and is related to deep challenges in the field of the economy, social justice, distribution of facilities and urban management.
Data from the United Nations Human Settlements Program (Habitat) for 2024 places approximately 29.8 million people, equivalent to 42.3% of Iran's urban population, in the broader index of housing shortages and slum living. This figure should not be compared directly to the internal statistics of informal settlements; Because the international index, in addition to the geographical area of residence, also evaluates the quality of housing and access to basic services.
Organizing the issue of marginalization or informal settlement, in addition to social, economic and cultural needs, is also a security requirement. Such areas are sometimes known as "workshops for the production and distribution of social harms". As the number of these areas increases and their organization is delayed, the areas of instability in the National Insurance and ultimately public safety and national security will strengthen.
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