Shanty Towns

Name: Farhana(8) & Noorun(20)

Class: 3B

What are shanty towns? Shanty towns are settlements of poverty people who

live in improvised dwellings made from scrap materials. They are mostly found in developing nations or

partially developed nations with an unequal distribution of wealth.

One billion people now live in shanty towns.

How do shanty towns hinder the development of a country? Poverty Sanitation Water vulnerability and risks Pollution and natural hazards No education for the young to gain knowledge, hence

not able to find a job

What is the living condition like in shanty towns? Collection of overcrowded poor quality housing which

develop on poor land. There are no services or amenities and are built of waste

materials. They are on the edge of cities on marginal land, waste tips,

cemeteries or poor quality land unwanted by developers. Poor living conditions, e.g. open sewers, lack of electricity

Where are they located? Largest shanty town is located in Asia is the Orangi

Township in Karachi, Pakistan Largest in Africa is Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya Others are located in South Africa, Australia, Canada,

Philippines and Bangladesh

What can be done to improve the living conditions? Provide water supply for the population Build better infrastructure Provide better sanitation Open up jobs opportunities Build shelters, schools