Physical Quality of Life Benchmark for Unsafe Slums in Egypt

Abstract

<em>Enhancing the quality of life in urban settle ments is one of the most significant challenges facing </em><em>governments. In the case of unsafe-slums, the challenge is even more problematical, as slum dwellers </em><em>not only suffer from substandard housing, devoid of basic necessities and unhealthy urban conditions, </em><em>but they are exposed to danger. This paper focuses on extracting the most significant physical </em><em>QoLindices in unsafe-slums in Egypt, taking into account the limited designated investments and the </em><em>temporary situation of suchslums. Interviews with central governments (ISDF, GOPP), local </em><em>authorities (Cairo and Gizagovernates), and urban planning experts were conducted, in addition to </em><em>secondary data collected from reports andresearches. The study reveals that the first priority to uplift </em><em>the QoL, is to reserve the household health by providing adequate and low-cost water supply, </em><em>sanitation and solid waste management. While enhancing services, housing condition and increasing </em><em>economic activities is not prompt, as it probably will result in rooting the community to unsafe </em><em>neighborhoods. Finally, the study proposed a paradigm that differentiates between the QoLbench mark </em><em>for unsafe slums subjected to relocation strategies and other types of slums to be upgraded and </em><em>developed.</em>