urban slums

From the Archives

Planet of Slums

Countries: Kenya
Previously filed under: Africa, Health
A new film gives insight into the lives of those living in Kibera, an urban slum of Nairobi.

Water Crisis in a Nairobi Slum

Topics: Health, Water
Countries: Kenya

Today the BBC posted a video that took a closer look inside Kibera, a large urban slum of Nairobi. Kibera is experiencing a water and sanitation crisis as nearly one million people are living in the slum without a suitable water supply.

Urban Slum

Countries: India

A great piece in the Economist on the slums of Mumbai.

For a decade, the state government has tried coaxing the slum-dwellers to let it bulldoze their hutments and build high-rise apartments instead. Each dispossessed family is entitled to a flat of 225 square feet. After 30 years, they will be allowed to sell it. But only a few have accepted this offer. So now the government is trying to enforce it. In August it put the bulldozing and redevelopment of Dharavi, in six parcels, out to tender. The work was due to begin this year. But it has been stalled by bad press nationally and local protests, organised by Mr Korde.

For small businessmen like him, the redevelopment plan is a nightmare. The slum's hutment factories, havens from tax and regulation, would be destroyed. In their place would be purpose-built workshops, for rent at commercial rates. “I will be finished,” says Mr Khan, the scholarly looking tailor. For poorer residents, like Ms Ishwar, the widow living in rubbish-blown misery, the story would be different. Her new apartment, unlike her current hovel, would be fit for human habitation. If she, or rather her relatives, sold it, they would be rich. Either way, Mr Korde admits, the scheme will eventually happen.


Breaking News

Zimbabwe: Irony of Rich Farmers Without Cash

All Africa - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 13:16
ZIMBABWE'S tobacco farmers are having cash problems. They have so much money in their pockets, but cannot buy what they need because it is in the form of cheques.

Ghana: Fisheries Act Forbids Foreign Vessels From Fishing

All Africa - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 12:22
The Ministry of Fisheries has denied allegations by a group, called the Joint Action Against Pair Trawling (JAAPT) that foreign vessels have invaded Ghana's fishing industry and all vessels plying the coastal areas of the country are engaged in pair trawling activities. It says the allegations are simply untrue.

Surplus Rice in Japan 'Could End Rice Crisis'

OneWorld Daily Headlines - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 19:44
Selling excess rice held in Japan and imported from the United States would incite a rapid drop in the global price of rice but requires immediate action from Tokyo and Washington, write former editor of The Rice Trader, Tom Slayton, and policy analyst, Peter Timmer.

Half in Ten

OneWorld Daily Headlines - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 19:44
Four prominent American social justice groups are launching a campaign to halve poverty in the United States in 10 years.

Myanmar Farmers May Miss Harvest

New York Times - Thu, 05/15/2008 - 21:34
The timing of Cyclone Nargis, which disrupted farmers as they were preparing to plant, could not have been worse.

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