Various challenges face residents of the world’s mega cities of the developing world. These challenges are typically a result of overurbanisation and the frequency with which urbanisation occurred. Below is a simple overview of the challenges facing people living in these large urban agglomerations of more than 10 million people:
Joblessness:
- High levels of unemployment and underemployment
- Urban labour markets are incapable of absorbing the expanding number of job seekers
- The result of urban poverty and social exclusion
- Creates an informal sector
Housing Problems:
- In mega cities of the developing world, population growth is always ahead of housing supply. This create slums or squatter settlements.
- For example, 50% of Mexico City’s population live in slums or squatter settlements.
- Strategies for meeting housing needs include upgrading projects and core housing projects.
Water and Sewerage Problems:
- Sewerage facilities are often ancient and inadequate. For example, only 11% of Manila’s population are connected to the sewerage system.
- Providing the infrastructure for the collection and treatment of solid and liquid waste is often beyond the resources of many mega cities.
Health and Nutrition Problems:
- Increased poverty leads to a decline in living standards and leads to infectious and parasitic diseases, deficiencies in the physical environment.
Air, water and noise pollution:
- Pollution results from years of uncontrolled, unregulated industrial production.
- Air and water pollution results in health problems.
View the document below and create a table outlining specific case studies of housing challenges in various mega cities if the developing world.
Street Life in Lagos: Al Jazeera English
Mumbai: Traffic congestion & Overcrowding
Articles:
Megacities’ explosive growth poses epic challenges
Housing shortage grips Sao Paulo as Brazil spends Billions on World Cup
All the cliches about Mexico City are true
The Water Challenges of Mega cities
Read the articles above and then respond to the following question:
Identify and describe the challenges experienced by residents of ONE mega city of the developing world.
Some important things to include:
- Key statistics
- Relevant visuals including maps, graphs and photographs
- Appropriate structure
Connectography 