rural-urban migration and growth of informal settlements

Question 1

what is rural to urban migration and what influences the migration?

Answer 1

occurs when people move from villages to settle in cities in hope go gaining a better standard of living. it is influenced by: high urban wages, educational institutions, bright light syndrome

Question 2

why is rural to urban migration a selective process

Answer 2

1. gender: opportunities vary economically for men and women. Men are more likely to leave than women
2. age: young people are more likely to move to towns and leave elderly and children behind

Question 3

What are examples of problems caused by rural to urban migration and give examples as to why are these problems

Answer 3

pull factors in urban areas: high living standard, high income, good nutrition

rapid population growth: very few people leave urban areas = big net gain in population. A lack of understanding of birth control can lead to poor family planning

conflicts: local people don’t want migrants to take opportunities and facilities

shortage of facilities and services: urban population increases too fast, and the number of facilities such as water supply, electricity and education increases very slowly compared to the population increase.

urban population increase: a lack of cheap available housing = shanty towns appear

Question 4

describe

squatter area:

shantytown:

Favela:

Slum:

Answer 4

squatter area: an area of unlawfully built huts and houses with poor facilities and services

shantytown: settlement of improvised buildings known as shanties or shacks, typically made of materials such as mud and wood

Favela: a shantytown on the outskirts of a Brazillian city

Slum: a slum is a heavily populated urban informal settlement characterised by substandard housing.

Question 5

what are the problems with the development of informal settlements

Answer 5

1. lack of basic services and city infrastructure
2. no security
3. housing may not comply with planning and building regulations
4. poor quality housing
5. no securities risk of sexual violence

Question 6

what are the causes of informal settlements

Answer 6

1. rural-urban migration
2. lack of affordable housing
3. weak governance
4. governments refuse to acknowledge the existence of informal settlements

Question 7

what is a slum and what causes the development of slums

Answer 7

a slum is a heavily populated urban informal settlement characterised by substandard housing.

caused by:

• urbanisation
• poverty
• politics
• rural to urban migration
• natural disaster
• poor housing planning
• bright light syndrome

Question 8

what are the characteristics of slums, what is insecure tenure

Answer 8

typically begin at the outskirts of a city. Overcrowding

insecure tenure is important encourages slum dwellers to upgrade their housing facilities

Question 9

what are some of the risks in slums

Answer 9

vulnerability to natural and unnatural hazards, violence, disease, child malnutrition, epidemics

Question 10

what are the countermeasures of slums

Answer 10

1. slum removal
2. slum relocation: removing the slums and potentially offering to house. However this sees slums as merely a place where poor people live
3. slum upgrade: opportunity for urban development by slum upgrading, such as improving sanitation, drinking water, rain water and drainage system