Population Pyramids



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S3 Geography

3

Brazil Unit

Overcrowding

20% of Rio’s population live in favelas. 150,000 people live in Roçinha. City authorities cannot keep pace with the provision of homes, jobs and services such as schools and hospitals.

Removal

During the 1950s/60s favelas in central Rio were cleared and residents forcibly moved to new housing on the outskirts eg. the City of God. Overall unsuccessful – residents moved back.

Self-help schemes

Favelas improved by using the labour of the residents while the authorities provide the basic materials eg. bricks, glass. Electricity, water pipes added.

Successful, although improvements restricted by steep hillsides and high density of housing.

Rio-de-Janeiro Favelas (Shanty Towns)

Problems in favelas e.g. Roçinha,

Rio-de-Janeiro

Employment

Most people work in the informal sector e.g. drivers, maids. Poorly paid, irregular work with no benefits.

Housing

Houses built with basic materials e.g. corrugated iron, plastic sheets. 12% have no running water, 30% have no sewage connection and 30% no electricity. Illegal connections to pylons are dangerous and can start fires.

Sanitation and Health

Lack of running water and proper sanitation results in contaminated water spreading diseases such as cholera.

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Crime

Many favelas are controlled by criminal gangs involved in drugs, gun crime etc. Police are reluctant to enter favelas such as Roçinha.

Steep Hillsides

Difficult to build roads up the steep hillsides. Roçinha has only one main road. Everything, including the rubbish, has to be carried in and out. Landslides can occur after heavy rainfall, sweeping away houses.

Morar Carioca (Rio Living)

From now until 2020 Rio intends to urbanise all of its favela communities. This involves:

a) UPP (Pacifying Police Units) – permanent community police within the favelas making it safer for residents and businesses.

b) Improving the housing and infrastructure – 40 local architects redesigning housing areas and new amenities provided.

Some fear this will only be a superficial makeover, to look good for the 2016 Olympics. Some residents forcibly evicted. Housing may be improved but job creation will be more difficult.

Recent developments in the favelas of

Rio-de-Janeiro

Site and services schemes

Authorities took control of building. In the 1990s the Favela Bairro Project set aside £200 million to improve 60 favelas. New brick homes with amenities and local services were built.

Successfully improved living conditions but as rent had to be paid for new homes it did not suit the poorest people.

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