Urban Problems

 What do urban problems refer to? Synopsis?

• Housing problems
• Transport problems
• Urban decay
• Pollutions
• Social problems and or Crime
 N:B refer to the groups presentations
slides.
 Urban Problems conti..
 The developing world cities are suffering from many serious
problems
 These are a consequence of the rapid population growth, a
lack of capital to invest and a very poor or outdated
infrastructure
PROBLEMS
 COLLAPSING INFRASTRUCTURE
 Many cities in the developing world do not have an
infrastructure that is capable of dealing with the massive
increases in population
 In addition, the governments do not have sufficient
funds available to maintain these facilities
Major causes of Urban problems in LDC

• Rapid increase of population due to

• large scale rural-urban migration and
• high rates of natural increase
• High degree of primacy
• Low level of industrialization and
• slow economic
• poor governance
 Urban Problems cont..
 INCREASING LEVELS OF POLLUTION
 Pollution of air, land and water is a major problem in most
developing world cities
 The drive to industrialisation brings with it inevitable problems,
especially as legislation to protect the environment is often non-
existent or rarely enforced
 THESE INDUSTRIES RELEASE THEIR POLLUTANTS INTO THE AIR,
LAND AND WATER.
 POOR SANITATION AND POOR SERVICES
 Water pollution is common and inadequate sewerage facilities
allow the spread of harmful bacteria
 Death from water-borne disease is one of the biggest causes of
high infant mortality rates
 The lack of basic services like electricity, clean water supply,
rubbish collection and sewerage disposal are some of the major
problems .
 Urban Problems cont..
 HOUSING
 Many Cannot afford housing as a result,they are
forced to build temporary accommodation in
spontaneous settlements
 These settlements are commonly known as
'shanty towns‘, Squatters or Slums or favelas
(Brazil) or bustees
• Substandard houses made of any materials
• Unobtainable to basic facilities such as clean water,
electricity and sewage system
• Unobtainable to urban resources such as job opportunities,
transport, education, medical and social services
 SHANTY TOWN RESIDENTS FACE MANY PROBLEMS
ON A DAILY BASIS.
PROBLEMS IN SHANTY TOWNS
 FIRES - FIRES CAN SPREAD QUICKLY.
 OVERCROWDING AND OVERPOPULATION - THE
AREA DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO
SUPPORT THE GROWING POPULATION.
• Most immigrants tend to build themselves a
shelter on land which does not belong to them.
• Or rent a single room in overcrowded and
deteriorated slums near the CBD.
 COMPETITION FOR JOBS - Jobs are in short supply
 DISEASE - Poor sanitation and limited health care can
lead to the spread of disease
 LACK OF SPACE - The newest and poorest arrivals may be
forced to live on the worst quality land
 INFRASTRUCTURE - Services are poor, public transport
is limited and connections to the electricity supply can be
limited and sometimes dangerous
 Impact of Urbanization on Health
 THREE MAIN GROUPS OF HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT ARE
RELATED TO URBANIZATION
 Poverty related diseases
 Diseases that are related to industrialization
 Health issues that are related to social and political
instability
POVERTY RELATED DISEASES
 Can easily be prevented by relatively simple interventions,
such as: Vaccination
 Infectious diseases, such as gastro- enteritis and measles
which are major causes of deaths among infants yet both
are easily preventable
 Poor sanitation and inadequate water supply
 HEALTH conti….
Diseases that are related to industrialization
 Typhoid and typhus:
 fairly common in the Industrial Revolution
 Typhoid was caused by infected water whereas
typhus was carried by lice
 Tuberculosis (TB):
 Causes a wasting of the body with the lungs being
attacked
 Cholera:
 was a greatly feared disease but it can easily be
prevented
 Caused by contaminated water
 It could spread rapidly and
 with devastating consequences
 Solutions to urban problems

• Site and service scheme

• Squatter improvement scheme
• Squatter and slum clearance and resettlement
scheme
• Provide with basic services(water and
electricity)