Rapid Urbanisation in LEDC's - Squatter Settlements

Question 1

What is a Squatter Settlement?

Answer 1

Definition of a squatter settlement varies widely from country to country and depends on a variety of defining parameters. In general, it is considered as a residential area in an urban locality inhabited by the very poor who have no access to tenured land of their own, and hence “squat” on vacant land, either private or public.

Question 2

What is a Shanty Town?

Answer 2

A shanty town or squatter area is a settlement of plywood, corrugated metal, sheets of plastic, and cardboard boxes. They are usually found on the outskirts of cities, in public parks, or near rail tracks, rivers, lagoons or city trash dump sites. Sometimes called a squatter, informal or spontaneous settlement, a typical shanty town often lacks proper sanitation, safe water supply, electricity, hygienic streets, or other basic human necessities.

Shanty towns are mostly found in developing nations, but also in some parts of developed nations

Question 3

Can you name some of the biggest slums in the world?

Answer 3

Favela da Rocinha (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) 
Cité Soleil (Haiti)
Dharavi (India)
Joe Slovo (Cape Town, South Africa)
Kibera (Nairobi, Kenya)
Mathare (Nairobi, Kenya)
Khayelitsha (Cape Town, South Africa)
Kya Sands (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Ciudad Bolivar (Bogota, Colombia)