Shanty towns- problems and solutions
Shanty towns are mostly found in developing countries, where there is an unequal distribution of wealth.
Problems
- Overcrowding: settlements have very high pop density, which means that there are too many people within the area.
- Fires spread quickly
- Overpopulation: This is due to the fact that the area does not have enough resources to support such a vast growing population.
- Competition for jobs
- Disease: this happens because of the poor sanitation and the limited health care, which can lead to the spread of diseases.
- Lack of space: This can lead to the newest and poorest arrivals being forced to live in the worst quality land.
- Infrastructure: services are bad, there is hardly any public transport and connections to the electricity supply can be limited and sometimes dangerous. In addition, the governments might not have sufficient funds available to improve the facilities or even to maintain them.
- Increasing levels of pollution: polluted air, land and water are one of the major problems in most developing world cities such as Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Trying to industrialise a country often comes with inevitable problems, especially as there is a lack on any legislation to protect environment. Unlicensed industries are also sometimes set up in people’s homes or rooftops, releasing their pollutants into the air, land and water.
- Increased level of traffic on poorly maintained roads
- Water supply: can also become polluted and the poor sewerage facilities allow the spread of harmful bacteria. Death from water-borne disease is one of the biggest causes of high infant mortality rates.
- Inadequate housing and services: In less developed cities, migrants who arrive are mostly forced to build their own shelter, live on the streets and if lucky, rent a room.
- Shanty towns are usually found on a land that might be prone to flooding or is very steeply sloping.
- Lack of employment which means that people have to find other ways of earning enough money to survive. In Manila, children scavenge on refuse sites collecting cans for recycling. Even though it might not seem very dangerous, this job involves risk
