Malawi

Malawi is a small landlocked country in southern Africa with a population of around 13 million. Although in the past the vast majority of Malawians lived in rural areas, according to a 2003 UNCHS report, Malawi is now the most rapidly urbanising country in the world. Unfortunately like many poor African nations today, Malawi's cities are ill-equipped to deal with the growing number of people flooding into the urban centres. While people are encouraged to relocate to cities because of economic opportunities, infrastructure and available shelter in Malawi’s urban areas cannot accommodate their needs and incoming people (and an ever growing number of refugees) are forced to live in informal and inadequate housing. In 2001 it was estimated that 91.1% of Malawi’s urban population lived in slums (!); slums characterized, among other things, by overcrowding, a serious lack of available clean drinking water, and poor sanitation facilities.(abstract from http://www.homeless-international.org)

Publication Date: 
2007
Journal Name: 
Homeless International - african partners & projects