No title, no problem: Land rights with digital maps, social media

Destroyed trees and houses are seen after the passage of hurricane Irma and Maria on Sept 20, 2017. In Puerto Rico, inheritance bequests were traditionally informal agreements, and only homeowners with a mortgage or a condominium had a title. The way in which property rights of the displaced are determined needs to account for technological advances, said Unruh. — AFP

BANGKOK: When Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017, the Category 5 storm destroyed and damaged thousands of homes, yet about 60% of housing aid claims were denied because residents could not prove their ownership or occupation.

In the US territory, inheritance bequests were traditionally informal agreements, and only homeowners with a mortgage or a condominium had a title. Many dwellings were informally built, and had no documents.