Challenges of Urban Growth Flashcards

All 10 cards in this deck

What is a squatter settlement?

An area of poor-quality, self-built housing on land the residents do not legally own.

Give one reason slums and squatter settlements grow so quickly in LIC/NEE cities.

Natural increase and rural–urban migration outpace the supply of affordable housing, so poor migrants build their own homes from waste materials.

Give one reason why providing sanitation is a challenge in LIC/NEE cities.

Slums are unplanned and often illegal, so they have no sewers; shared public toilets are rarely cleaned and spread disease.

Give one reason why providing clean water and energy is a challenge in LIC/NEE cities.

The population grows faster than pipes and power lines can be laid, and governments lack the money to extend them into unplanned settlements.

Give one reason why providing access to health and education services is a challenge in LIC/NEE cities.

Rapid growth means demand rises faster than schools and clinics can be built, and actual population numbers are often unknown, making planning difficult.

Give one reason why reducing crime is a challenge in LIC/NEE cities.

High poverty, unemployment and social exclusion mean some people may resort to crime to survive, gangs control areas of informal settlements, and police corruption means many distrust the police.

What is the informal economy?

Work that is unofficial, untaxed and unregulated, so workers have no rights, protection or job security.

Give one reason why air pollution is high in LIC/NEE cities.

Many vehicles are old and lack emissions technology, factories are unregulated, and many people still burn fuelwood or kerosene.

Give one reason why waste disposal is a challenge in LIC/NEE cities.

Only a small share of waste is collected, so rubbish is dumped in ditches, blocking drains and attracting rats and flies.

True or false? Slums in LIC/NEE cities can be described only as places of despair.

False. Slums can be places of hope as well as despair – older slums often gain brick housing, services and community life, and offer a better future for the next generation.