Informal settlement in Ethiopia : the case of two Kebeles in Bahir Dar City
Ambaye, Daniel Weldegebriel
This paper investigates the status and condition of the informal settlement in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia. Informal land settlement is socially, politically and economically growing problem in Ethiopia. Informal land settlement is usually referred to residential areas where a group of housing units have been constructed on land to which the occupants have no legal claim, or which they occupy illegally. They are characterized mostly by the low quality houses and the lack of, or inadequate infrastructure and social services. According to a recent assessment made by PRIME CONSALTUNTS, about 30 percent of houses in Bahir Dar city are categorized as informal settlements. The selected study areas in this study are established on agricultural land informally purchased from farmers. The causes of such squatting activities are population growth, inefficient land provision, the high cost of urban living standard, and illegal land grabbing by urban speculators. Migration is one reason for population growth which is forced because of shortage of rural agricultural land. Informal settlements in the city could cause environmental deterioration, social distress, economic destruction (fire), and urban violence.
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