ABSTRACT
Up to 50% of the urban population in low-and middle-income countries live in informal settlements. By 2030, it is estimated that their number will increase to around four billion people, or close to 50% of the world population (United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs [UNDESA] 2014). Informal settlements are often located on land highly vulnerable to environmental and anthropogenic hazards, which are exacerbated by poor quality of housing, water, sanitation, drainage, infrastructure, healthcare, and emergency services. Considering the inevitability of disasters affecting informal settlements and thus rendering homeless large numbers of low-income people, it is of utmost importance for national stakeholders and the international humanitarian and development community to identify durable housing solutions for urban informal settlers displaced by disasters. However, although the last decade has witnessed an increasing concern and interest in urban disasters, so far housing responses for informal settlers displaced by disasters remain poorly documented.
