Population Increase and Vulnerability to Disasters In the Informal Settlements of Mwanza City, Tanzania
Abstract
Urban population growth has demonstrated synergetic relationship with the growth of informal settlements and disasters. The increase in the number of people and their properties in informal settlements have accelerated the vulnerability of communities to disaster risks. This study employs Participatory Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) methodology to analyse vulnerability to disasters at household and community levels. Analysis and interpretation based on socio-economic and political ecology status of local community revealed that people living, and working in Mwanza city and their properties have been exposed to natural, human-made and human-induced hazards and disasters. The study revealed thatthesedisasters have threatened and destroyed the economies of poor households, both in terms of their frequency and severity of the damages.The study findings show that the future stability of Mwanza city ecosystem is on threat should the increased number of people and human activities on hazardous land persist. To improve quality of life and safety in the community prone to natural, human-made and human-induced disasters, there should be mitigation measures and strategies to reduce severity of disasters and to improve safety and security of people and their property. The study recommends that measures and strategies aimed at reducing disaster should address the whole set of issues leading to poverty and disparities within the community under the umbrella of neo-liberalism.
References
Ayers, J.M. & S. Hug. 2009. The Value of Linking Mitigation and Adaptation: A case Study of Bangladesh. Environmental Management, 43: 753 €“764.
Barbier, B., H. Yacouba, H. Kirambiri, & B. Some. 2010. Human Vulnerability in Sahel: Farmers Adaptation Strategies in Northern Burkina Faso, Environmental Management, 43: 790 €“803
Birkmann, J. 2006. Measuring Vulnerability to Natural Hazards: Towards Disaster Resilient Societies. Tokyo: United Nations University Press.
Conacher, A.J. & J.B. Dalrymple. 1977. The Nine Units Land Surface Model: An Approach to Pedogeomorphic Research, Geoderma, 18: 1 €“154,
Dar es Salaam City Authority. 1997. Managing Open Space. Sustainable Dar es Salaam Project Report. Mimeo.
EL-Masri, S. & G. Tipple. 2002. Natural Disaster, Mitigation and Sustainability: The Case of Developing Countries, International Planning Studies Journal, 7(2): 157 €“175.
Fekade, W. 2000. Deficits of Formal Urban Land Management and Informal Responses under Rapid Urban Growth, an International Perspective. Habitat International Journal, 24(2): 127 €“150.
Goudie, A. 2006. The Human Impact on the Natural Environment, 6th Ed. Blackwell Publishing.
Hay, L. 2005. Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography, 2nd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
IDNDR (International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction). 1996. Cities at Risk: Making Cities safer Before Disaster Strikes. Geneva.
Imelda, A. & M. Zubair. 2004. Community Based Disaster Risk Management: A Field Practitioner ' s Handbook. Bangkok: ADPC and UNESCAP.
Jambiya, G., K. Kulindwa, & H. Sosovele. 1997. Poverty and Environment, The Case of Informal Sand-mining, Quarrying and Limestone Making Activities in Dar es Salaam, Research on Poverty Alleviation, Research Paper No. 97.1, REPOA Publications.
Justus, K. 2010. An Integrated City Level Planning Process to Address the Impacts of Hazards in Kenya: The Case of Mombasa. Journal of Cities, 27(6): 466 €“475.
Katega, I.B. 2007. Rural Urban Migration and Poverty in Tanzania: A Case Study of Kondoa District. PhD thesis, University of Dar es Salaam.
Kironde, J.M. L. 2000. Understanding Land Markets in African Urban Areas: The Case of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Habitat International Journal. 24(2): 151 €“165.
Kiunsi, R.B. & Lupala with L. Fred, M. Moris, B. Malele, N. Ally & E. Mchome. 2009. Building Disaster-Resilience Communities: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In M. Pelling & Wisner (ed.) Disaster Risk Reduction: Cases from Africa, London: Earthscan.
Kondoro, J.W., J. Lugalla & B.B. Majani. 1998. Options for Improved Urban Pollution Control and Management, A Case of Dar es Salaam, Msimbazi Valley River, Unpublished Report
Kupaza, R. 2009. Far Reaching the Effects of Drought, A case of Tanzania, http://allafrica.com/stories/200907271253.html, retrieved on Friday, 15th October, 2010.
Lupton, M., & T. Woltson. 1994. Low-income Housing, the Environment and Mining on the Witwaterand, South Africa. In: H. Main, & S.W. Williams (ed.). Third World Cities. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
Magigi, W., & B.B. Majani. 2006. Housing Themselves in Informal Settlements: A Challenge to Community Growth Processes, Land Vulnerability and Poverty Reduction in Tanzania: Promoting Land Administration and Good Governance. Paper presented on the 5th Regional Conference, Accra-Ghana, March 8 €“11, 2006.
Main, H. & S.W. William (eds). 1994. Marginal Urban Environments as Havens For Low- Income Housing: Third World Regional Comparisons, In Environment and Housing in Third World Cities. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
Masud, P. 2010. Urbanisation and Sustainability, Challenges and Strategies for Sustainable Urban Development in Bagladesh. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 13(1): 578 €“590.
Mbonile M.J. 2002. A Study of Uprooted People in Tanzania: A Case Study of Mwanza City. Dar es Salaam: DUP.
Mwanza City Council Report (MCCR). 2004. Annual Council Report, Mwanza. Mimeo.
€”. 2007. Annual Council Report, Mwanza. Mimeo.
€”. 2009. Annual Council Report, Mwanza. Mimeo.
MTMP (1994), Mwanza Town Master Plan (1992 €“2012), Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Dar es Salaam: Government Printer.
Nachmias, D. & C.F. Nachmias. 2000. Research Methods in the Social Sciences, New York, St. Martins.
Norman, E.M. 2010. Disaster Response, Natural Disaster, Katrina Surgery Today. Natural Hazards, 40(7): 376 €“401.
Ojo, O.E. 1996. A Case Study of Heavy Metals in the Root Zone of Natural Reed Bed of Msimbazi Stream. MA thesis, University of Dar es Salaam.
Palela, E. 2000. The Impacts of Anthropogenic Factors on Urban Wetlands: The Case of Msimbazi Valley, MA (Dissertation), University of Dar es Salaam, Unpublished
Pelling, M. 2003. The Vulnerability of Cities: Natural Disasters and Social Resilience. London: Earth Scan Publications Ltd.
Pelling, M. & B. Wisner. 2009. African Cities of Hope and Risk. In M. Pelling, & Wisner (eds.) Disaster Risk Reduction, Cases from Africa. London: Earthscan.
Phong, T. 2010. Catastrophic Flood and Forest Cover Change in Huong River Basin, Central Viet Nam, A Gap Between Common Perceptional Facts.
Journal of Environmental Management. 91(11): 2186 €“2200.
Pino, J.C. 1997. Family and Favela: The Reproduction of Poverty in Rio de Janeiro. London: Greenwood Press.
Rugumamu, W., H. Hambati, & E. Haule. 2009. Building Community Resilience to Earthquake Disaster Risk in Sub-Saharan Africa, A case of South-western Tanzania. In: W. Rugumamu & R. Ikingura (eds.). Earth Sciences for the Benefit of Society and Sustainable Development in Africa. Proceedings of the African Regional Conference for Launching the IYPE.
Rugumamu, W. 2001. Combining Traditional Knowledge and Expert Assistance in Environmental Planning and Management: A case of Msimbazi Flood Hazard in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. Journal of Geographical Association of Tanzania. 30: 86 €“100.
Sarah, J. 2011. Researching the Threats and Opportunities Caused by Human Waste. Applied Geography, 31(2): 761 €“769.
Satterthwaite, D. 2001. Reducing Urban Poverty: Some Lessons from Experience. Birmingham: IIED Urban Publications.
Skeldon, R. 1990. Population Mobility in Developing Countries. London: Belhaven Press.
Smith, K. 2003. Environmental Hazards: Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster. London and New York: Routledge.
Todaro, M.P. 1997. Urbanisation, Unemployment, and Migration in Africa: Theory and Policy., New York: New York University Press.
Tolba, M. 1992. Saving Our Planet: Challenges and Hopes. London: Chapman and Hall.
UN-Habitat. 2003. The Challenge of Slums: Global Report on Human Settlements. London: Earthscan Publications.
United Republic of Tanzania (URT). 2002. National Census Report. Dar es Salaam: Government Printer.
€”. 2004. National Disaster Management Policy. Dar es Salaam: Government Printer.
€”. 2000. National Human Settlement Development Policy. Dar es Salaam: Government Printer.
€”. 2005. National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction (NSGPR) Program (2005 €“2010). Vice Presidents Office. Dares salaam: Government Printer.
Wisner, B. P. Blaikie, T. Cannon & I. Davis. 2005. At Risk: Natural Hazards, People ' s Vulnerability, and Disasters. London and New York: Routledge.
World Bank. 1989. Reaching the Poor through Urban Operations. Washington, DC.: World Bank.
