Strengthening disaster risk resilience through enhanced coordination mechanisms at local level in flood hazard prone areas: case study of KwaZulu-Natal province

Abstract

Approximately half the world's population has moved into cities and other peri-urban areas. This type of urbanisation is predicted to continue (Bai et al. 2018, Williams et al. 2018). However, accommodation and amenities are generally unplanned or unprepared for the sudden upsurge of humans associated with such rapid urbanisation, and thus posing big challenges concerning the efficient administration of cities, worse so, in the developing world (United Nations Development Programme Report 2018). Under this scenario, the urban poor are not only characterised by low-incomes and overcrowding, but are also confronted with substandard housing and limited or no access to other basic services such as sanitation. They lack secure tenure, face insufficient access to safe water supplies, lack proper sanitation, and the areas lack drainage and solid waste management infrastructure. Healthcare and emergency services are also under pressure. Furthermore, such areas are commonly found in environmentally vulnerable zones, and thus at risk from the effects of climate change (United Nations Development Programme Report 2018). Local authorities are unable to provide affordable housing for the poor. Consequently, over 1 billion people reside in informal settlements globally primarily across Africa, Asia, and South America. These informal settlements are very prevalent and are part of the social and economic fabric in countries such as Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa. In these regions and countries, informal settlements sprout out around cities, in peripheral areas, and on marginal lands where people are still able to gain access to urban resources such as job opportunities, healthcare services, or education (International Institute for Environment and Development report 2018).