16.02.2020

MMU Attended WUF10

Marmara Municipalities Union (MMU) participated in the World Urban Forum 10 (WUF 10), organized by UN-Habitat on 8-13 February 2020 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Within the forum which addressed different challenges that today’ cities face, MMU Secretary General M. Cemil Arslan made speech in two sessions. In the session titled “Megacities of Global South Network”, Mr. Arslan touched on the general risks and challenges such as population growth and environmental degradation that the majority of the megacities in different parts of the world face today. He also addressed region-specific challenges such as earthquake from which MMU’s member cities, including Istanbul as a megacity in Turkey, are affected. Mr. Arslan also delivered his comments on the special high-level event on “Inclusive Cities: Enhancing the Positive Impact of Urban Migration” and highlighted the efforts and experiences of Turkish municipalities in the face of refugee influx.

Apart from the active participation in the sessions, MMU also opened a booth at WUF10. At the booth MMU’s activities and Marmara Urban Forum (MARUF), which will be organized in 2021 in Istanbul for the second time by MMU, were promoted. Representatives from MMU exchanged their ideas on issues related to urban life with the speakers, participants and exhibitors of the WUF10.