CHALLENGES OF

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CHALLENGES OF FIRE AND FLOODS IN HUMAN
SETTLEMENTS By Department of Housing (National)
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INTRODUCTION

• Contextualize the issue and provide the nuts
  and bolts, Raise issues for consideration
• International experience
• communities in informal settlements are
  vulnerable to
• environmental hazards
• nature and location of the settlement
• external threats from outside the settlement
• Local governments
• more aware of the environmental risks
• required to respond and mobilise their resources
  to assist such communities.

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INTRODUCTION

• Are urban policies are well designed enough to
  prevent disasters
• Are adequate mechanisms in place to respond to
  disasters
• Can sufficient resources be mobilised for
  post-disaster reconstruction.
• Criterion for assessing disaster preparedness and
  responses by local authorities (DFID report,
  2000)
• Are the livelihoods of affected communities
• satisfactorily understood
• supported
• enhanced in the aftermath of disasters,
• whether current conditions suggest that more
  sustainable settlements are being produced

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Background

• Total population
• 44 819 780 (96-01)

Rural 41.83
Urban 59.17
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Key Elements for Sustainable Human Settlements
Rural
Economy
Space
Informal
Formal
Urban
Governance
Environment
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Urban 59
1.45 m 1.84m hh Informal settlements
Rural Areas 41.83
Informal freestanding
Backyard

• Urbanisation Rate 65

• Urbanisation Rate 65

• Urbanisation Rate 65

30 new hh formulation

• Urbanisation Rate 65

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VULNERABILITY IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS

• Over 12 of households living in freestanding
  informal housing
• most often located on the periphery of cities
  
• experience the risks associated with
• lack of services
• inappropriate land for
• Location
• steep slopes (Inanda, Durban),
• flood planes (Alexandra, Johannesburg),
• close to mine dumps (East Rand, near
  Johannesburg),
• close to heavy industrial areas (Wentworth,
  Durban),
• landfill sites settlement.

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VULNERABILITY TO DISASTER

• Nature of the settlement
• materials utilised to build structure
• prone to rapidly spreading fire (Cape Town,
  JHB etc)
• collapsing structures.
• health risks (rising damp, poor indoor air
  quality)
• Weather factors
• Living conditions

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• 45 000 fires as a result of paraffin cause
  between 2500 3000 deaths pa
• SA hh use more than 7000m litres of paraffin for
  cooking, lighting and
• heating every year (SA Survey 03/04)

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Addressing Disasters

• Pre and Post
• Pre .. Complex,
• Post ..
• Responsive
• Post facto

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Addressing Disasters Pre disaster
Inter-departmental collaboration holistic
approach - Relevant policies - Early warning
systems for preparedness - Accidents in the home
and settlements - Capacity Building Relevant
legislation and systems to get buy-in from
stakeholders Address housing, economic and
social issues Education to communities
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Addressing Disasters Post

• Emergency Housing Policy
• Floods
• 2000 Limpopo, North West, and Mpumalanga
• 2001 floods in the Western Cape
• Constitutional Court verdict in Irene Grootboom
  Case
• Many persons in dangerous living conditions
• Informal Housing Policy
• Informal settlements
• In situ upgrading
• Access for Emergency vehicles
• Basic services, water, lighting, sanitation
• Inter - Ministerial Committee

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ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED

• Responses of the authorities before and when
  disaster strikes
• How do we improve disaster awareness and
  preparedness?
• Planning and development arms of government to
  combine with Departments responsible for
  disaster management
• Need change in thinking around human settlement
  planning and design
• Responses to disasters and management of risks
  must consider good planning for sustainable
  development
• Official responses must place people in a
  stronger socio-economic position
• Disaster risk management and inter-departmental
  collaboration

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Breaking New Ground - Sustainable Human
Settlement

• Social facilities and amenities
• Housing
• Safety
• Economic opportunities
• Viable communities
• Need to Plan for Sustainable Human Settlements

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Summary of Emergency Housing Policy

• Temporary assistance except where formal
• houses are to be repaired/reconstructed
• Is limited to essentials
• National Norms and standards will not apply
• Will augment disaster initiatives
• Not an alternative for normal projects
• Will accommodate wide range of beneficiaries
• Should be initial phase for permanent solution

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Summary of Emergency Housing Policy

• Can be used where people become homeless due to
  situations beyond their control
• (floods, fires, storms, earthquakes, sinkholes,
  
• industrial incidents)
• Live in dangerous conditions
• eg. below flood lines, on dolomite, undermined
  land etc

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Summary of Emergency Housing Policy

• Also applicable to persons who
• Live in way of services
• Are evicted or threatened by eviction
• Whose houses are to be demolished
• Are displaced due to conflict or unrest
• Live in life threatening conditions
• In exceptional housing need and emergency

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Summary of Emergency Housing Policy

• Permanent housing solution approach should always
  be
• first option
• Application of programme
• - Repair
• - Reconstruction on existing area
• - Reconstruction in new area with services
• - Provision of am Emergency Housing unit

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Summary of Emergency Housing Policy
Qualification Criteria - The normal subsidy
criteria will not apply - Income may exceed R3
500,00 pm - Non Citizens - Minor headed
households - Singles - Non first time
owners - Previous beneficiaries
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Thank you