U.N. says slums fulfil need

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33671, 22 October 1974, Page 20

U.N. says slums fulfil need

'By a correspondent of the Associated Press, through N.Z.P.A.)

Slums and squatter settlements are here to stay and proliferate, so governments would do well to recognise the positive social character-! istics found in these areas, according to a United Nations report, j

Slum-dwellers and squatters now constitute more jthan one-third of the urban , population in all developing (countries, and they are expanding at a rate of 15 per (cent a year, the report says. Very few countries have achieved the United Nations’ set target of building 10 housing units a year per 1000 inhabitants. Those that have are all members of the developed bloc, and include Australia, Canada, West Gerjmany, Japan, and the Soviet (Union. Industrialised countries generally invest more than 4 per cent of their gross national products in housing, some countries including France, Italy, and Switzerland investing more than 6 per cent. Elsewhere, traditional approaches to meet housing needs through market forces were rendered useless by the magnitude of the demand and the low income levels of those requiring shelter. Governments are told by the report that they should not react with irrational emphasis on total slum clearance, but adopt policies and programmes to improve their physical environments and provide essential services.

The emergence and continuing existence of such forms of housing prove that they fulfil a basic and continuing need on a scale and in ways

- other programmes cannot claim, says the report. Governments have been reluctant to recognise the positive aspects of community cohesion, social contacts, and the self-help and initiative which can be ; encouraged and developed, with support and incentives, j within those assigned to the culture of poverty. Squatters, for example, have demonstrated that popular participation brings results by the manner in which they organise their movements, select sites and their community leaders, and mobilise their meagre

resources in direct efforts to improve their lives. Yet, in many cases, the report says that relocation of squatters and slum clearance by governments or influential private citizens have been carried out in flagrant violation of the human rights of these people. The survey says that lowcost housing will not solve the problem in developing because of the scarcity of public resources and the huge number of dwellings needed. It suggests that the governments turn their attention to upgrade the mat-

erials with which squatter dwellings are usually built — wood, tin. cardboard, and tar-paper, and help slum dwellers to improve their shelters to meet minimum building standards or local building regulations. The global housing shortage worsened during the 1970-1974 period the survey covered. It says that almost two--1 thirds of the world’s urban population now live in communities lacking plans for i either comprehensive development or an adequate planning and development i authority.