Cairo or al-Qāhirah is Africa’s largest city in terms of
landmass. It is in the North-East of Egypt and is home to over 10 million
people. Population is approximate as the next census is due to be carried out
this year. However, the last census of 2006 stated that the population was
7,771,617 and using the annual population growth rates of Egypt, Cairo is
estimated to have a population of 9.3 million (UNdata,
2014). However, population growth rates of Cairo are likely to be higher
than Egypt, leading the World
Population Review (2015) to estimate population at approximately 12
million.
As (Singaby, 2011) notes, like most megacities, Cairo has two faces. Singaby also draws on a study by the UN, revealing that 25-53% of Cairo’s inhabitants live in slums. As the city’s population began expanding exponentially in the 1960s, slums began to develop for those that could not afford housing in the affluent wards of the city. Singaby also exemplifies the inequality of Cairo in figure 1 below:
Examples of affluent areas include complexes such as ‘Nile City’, which receive a lot of investment. Sabry (2009) stipulates that the Cairo governorate hosts 81 slums, also referred to the ashwa'iyyat. Although Greater Cairo covers four other districts in Egypt as well, the ashwa'iyyat of Greater Cairo were thought to hold a population of 8.3 million people in 2000. The slums of Cairo, which are home to millions of people, include Ramlet Boulaq, Ezbet El Haggana and Manshiyat Naser (McGrath 2013; Elshamy 2012). Manshiyat Naser has in fact become known as Cairo’s ‘Garbage City’ and has no sewage system and water is riddled with pollution (Alpeyrie, 2013). Families in this particular slum, mostly work in the informal sector and black market of garbage collectors. The economy is not thriving and many can still not afford adequate water and sanitation systems. David Sims asserts that there are four types of slums within Cairo:
The map below shows the distribution of each type (exc. Type D) within Cairo, exemplifying just how poverty-stricken areas of Cairo are:
The map excludes Type D settlements, as they cannot be delineated due to their very small size. Although these are arguably the most affected victims of the economic water crisis, the aim of the map here, is to simply show the unequal distribution of wealth and resources within Cairo.
As (Singaby, 2011) notes, like most megacities, Cairo has two faces. Singaby also draws on a study by the UN, revealing that 25-53% of Cairo’s inhabitants live in slums. As the city’s population began expanding exponentially in the 1960s, slums began to develop for those that could not afford housing in the affluent wards of the city. Singaby also exemplifies the inequality of Cairo in figure 1 below:
Examples of affluent areas include complexes such as ‘Nile City’, which receive a lot of investment. Sabry (2009) stipulates that the Cairo governorate hosts 81 slums, also referred to the ashwa'iyyat. Although Greater Cairo covers four other districts in Egypt as well, the ashwa'iyyat of Greater Cairo were thought to hold a population of 8.3 million people in 2000. The slums of Cairo, which are home to millions of people, include Ramlet Boulaq, Ezbet El Haggana and Manshiyat Naser (McGrath 2013; Elshamy 2012). Manshiyat Naser has in fact become known as Cairo’s ‘Garbage City’ and has no sewage system and water is riddled with pollution (Alpeyrie, 2013). Families in this particular slum, mostly work in the informal sector and black market of garbage collectors. The economy is not thriving and many can still not afford adequate water and sanitation systems. David Sims asserts that there are four types of slums within Cairo:
- Type A: Informal settlements on former agricultural land
- Type B: Informal settlements on former desert state land
- Type C: Deteriorated historic core
- Type D: Deteriorated urban pockets
The map below shows the distribution of each type (exc. Type D) within Cairo, exemplifying just how poverty-stricken areas of Cairo are:
The map excludes Type D settlements, as they cannot be delineated due to their very small size. Although these are arguably the most affected victims of the economic water crisis, the aim of the map here, is to simply show the unequal distribution of wealth and resources within Cairo.
It is interesting to read about the various categories of slum and their corresponding locations and distribution patterns. It seems like the 'Tragedy of the Commons' line of thought would be quite relevant to the situation here.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to read about the various categories of slum and their corresponding locations and distribution patterns. It seems like the 'Tragedy of the Commons' line of thought would be quite relevant to the situation here.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Many seem to act on their own self interest. Bribes are taken by authorities and corruption does seem to linger. I think these nations and megacities need to be hit with a few home truths and need to unite and do what is needed for society. What many citizens do not realise, is that by doing what is best for society, long term, they could reap many more benefits through situations of economic boom for example. They need to be made aware that by being self-serving in the short term, they are constraining themselves long-term!
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