What is a slum?
In order to understand the importance of slums we must know what they are. According to the Collins English Dictionary a slum is "a squalid section of a city, characterized by inferior living conditions and usually by overcrowding." What does it actually mean? A slum is a place where many people live. However, that's not what characterizes them. A slum is a miserable place where there might be insecurity, no access to potable water, a lack of a clean environment, an incredible amount of people, and a really poor home, if you can call it that way.
"So what?" many may ask, "who cares?" Well, you certainly should. How can we be okay with everything that is happening around us? How can we stand idly and do nothing about it? How can we care so little when thousands of lives are at stake? How can we ignore such a thing? How can we blind ourselves from something that is happening in front of our eyes?
"So what?" many may ask, "who cares?" Well, you certainly should. How can we be okay with everything that is happening around us? How can we stand idly and do nothing about it? How can we care so little when thousands of lives are at stake? How can we ignore such a thing? How can we blind ourselves from something that is happening in front of our eyes?
We must understand that slums are not the problem, they are necessary because of the increasing population. The communities should not be removed, their living conditions are the ones that have to be improved. The real problem here is the conditions people live in, is knowing that humans have to go through all this in order to survive, is that people are dying at an incredible young age. The problem is that everyone is okay with it.
The Five Biggest Slums in the World
Neza-Chalco-Itza
Location: Mexico City
Inhabitants: About 4 million people
Age of the slum: Began growing in the early 1900s
Location: Mexico City
Inhabitants: About 4 million people
Age of the slum: Began growing in the early 1900s
Orangi Town
Location: Karachi, Pakistan
Inhabitants: 1.5 million people and growing
Age of the slum: 10 years
Space: 22 square miles
Inhabitants: 1.5 million people and growing
Age of the slum: 10 years
Space: 22 square miles
Dharavi
Location: Mumbai, India
Inhabitants: About 1 million
Age of the slum: The slum began growing as the tanning and textile industries grew
Space: 1 square mile
Life Expectancy: 50 years
Inhabitants: About 1 million
Age of the slum: The slum began growing as the tanning and textile industries grew
Space: 1 square mile
Life Expectancy: 50 years
Khayelitsha
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Inhabitants: More than 400,000 (2005)
Age of the slum: Started growing by the 1980s
Fun Fact: 40% of the population is under 19 years old
Inhabitants: More than 400,000 (2005)
Age of the slum: Started growing by the 1980s
Fun Fact: 40% of the population is under 19 years old
Kibera
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Inhabitants: 200,000-1,000,000
Age of the slum: Started growing by the 1980s
Space: Size of Central Park
Life Expectancy: 30 years
Inhabitants: 200,000-1,000,000
Age of the slum: Started growing by the 1980s
Space: Size of Central Park
Life Expectancy: 30 years