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U r b a n S e c t o r S t u d i e s a n d C a p a c i t y Bu i l d i n g f o r K h a r t o u m S t a t e
4. Diagnosis of urban-rural poverty
T
he studies summarized here identify three major factors that cause unsuitable and unaffordable habitat conditions for the poor: socioterritorial fragmentation, mono-functional urban uses, and a disconnected urban structure. Socio-territorial fragmentation is a factor because it was observed that real estate dynamics, reflected in the enormous gaps among the different categories of land prices (Figure 19), tend to push the poor out of the urban fabric, creating a clear duality between the “formal” city (basically consolidated Khartoum and most of the centre of Khartoum North and Omdurman) and the separate “informal” city (basically greater Khartoum) and further reproducing fragmented urban patterns. This urban structure reflects mono-functional urban uses, emphasizing the dual city effect. Finally, there is a disconnected urban structure, in which the formal areas with roads and easy access by relatively cheap transportation contrast with those areas that have difficult access because of inadequate roads and relatively expensive transportation. This metropolitan “mosaic”, working in parts, results in extremely inefficient and slow socio-economic progress and affects, all inhabitants, but especially the urban poor.
Figure 19: Land prices map (2008)
services” and similar schemes, which are designed on the assumption that supplying land at nominal prices is enough to ensure the settlement of inhabitants in general, and the poor in particular. Secondly, there is “leapfrog” development, caused by urban growth that targets new areas beyond the consolidated city boundaries (such as old villages) and advances on agricultural land. The socio-territorial pattern of these new areas does not match their surroundings, creating tensions among neighbours. Thirdly, there is social segregation and urban fragmentation. The first two phenomena directly affect the habitat conditions of the poor, who, even if they are able to access a plot, cannot afford to connect to water and sanitation facilities or build permanent houses. Such a situation leads them to settle informally in areas that lack basic social services and infrastructure, with expensive living conditions and scarce income generation opportunities. Their hope is to survive while they save money to be able to afford housing construction costs in the (remote) areas where they own land. This situation aggravates the problems and creates the third phenomenon segregation and fragmentation. The remote location affects the socio-economic performance of low-income groups because of the high transportation costs. Informal squatters in unsuitable areas create isolated “ghettos”, and, apart from suffering from poverty, experience stigmatization from the rest of the society. Crime and other illegal activities inevitably increase. The combination of variables mentioned is presented in Figure 20. Figure 20. Factors shaping poverty in Khartoum
Factors
Low density and rapid urbainization
Metropolitan advance on agricultural land
Growing social gap, high urban living costs
Urban phenomena
Urban sprawl
Leap frog urban development
Urban duality, segregation and fragmentation
Key problems
Source: Prepared by UN-HABITAT team in Khartoum based on information provided by the judiciary and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Public Utilities.
Such factors shape three phenomena. Urban sprawl results from the expansion of low density neighbourhoods, mostly because of the application of “sites and
High percentage of General poor unbuilt plots(lack and unaffordable of funds + habitat speculation) conditions
Scarcity of land - high cost of housing
Causes
Unaffordable services, housing & lack of employment opportunities
Unskill labour force to adapt from rural to urban income generation activities
Lack of land ownership, stigmatization, High cost renting in inner city
Urban poor category
Poor neighbourhoods in remote locations
Poor uban villages
Informal squatter and IDP camps, Overcrowded renting in inner city