Housing Conditions and Strategies for Growth Management

Housing considered 'substandard', for lack of services, shotty construction, and crowded conditions, predominates in Addis Ababa and towns throughout Ethiopia. In 1980, over 85% of the population of Addis Ababa lived in slums or 'informal settlements' similar to the famed 'Barrios' squatter settlements in South American cities (Tarver 195). Though wealthier neighborhoods boast European style mansions and public buildings, the majority of Addis Ababa residents erect their own houses with whatever materials are available. Over 80% of homes have wood or mud walls and 93% are sheltered by corrugated iron roofs (Tarver 195). Three percent of houses have thatched roofs (Tarver 195). Only 12% of homes, mostly those of European design have cement or plastic tile floors, while 34% have wood floor boards (Tarver 195). Over 51% of houses in Addis Ababa have only earthen floors (Tarver 195).

The substanard construction materials used in a majority of homes in Addis Ababa are not the greatest concern of residents. The most pressing need of lower and middle class citizens alike, is sanitation in a city which currently has no municipal sewage system. Cesspools and septic tanks are common in affluent neighborhoods, but the majority of the population lacks access to waste treatment facilities (Area Handbook 169). The absence of sanitation in the city leads to the spread of illness and disease through contaminated drinking water. Addis Ababaıs water supply, though filtered and treated with chlorine, is often polluted (Area Handbook 169).

The squatter settlements are unregulated by the government and often lack basic services. They are erected haphazardly by immigrants and the cityıs poorest residents in undeveloped land near the center of the city and on the outskirts. The densest settlement of informal housing, known as Erri Be Kentu, ("To Cry For No Help"), is a maze of narrow streets and shacks situated between Addis Ababa University and the upper-class commercial district of the Piazza (Bolton).

The newly empowered capitalist government is bracing itself for continuing projected growth in this informal sector and in the Addis Ababa region as a whole, by improving conditions in existing neighborhoods. Like urban centers in other Less Developed Countries (LDC), Addis Ababa is continually playing catch up as those who flock to the cityıs informal settlements seek employment and demand services. The municipal and national government hasnıt the time or the money for grandiose development schemes or new towns. Instead, it can only try to supply each new settlement on the urban fringe with access to basic services.

Major government efforts have been made of late to extend infrastructure and services throughout Erri Be Kentu and Addis Ababaıs other destitute neighborhoods. Extensions of the water and power networks originally established during the Italian Occupation, supply 92% of homes with running water and electrify over 90% (Tarver 195). The Addis Tribune reports that additional help is on the way as the regional council expects to supply 83,000 more residents with electricity by 2001 (Addis Tribune 3/20/97). The council also plans to provide access to piped water for another 331,000 residents in the same period (Addis Tribune 3/20/97).

In an effort to alleviate the housing crush, the government has also recently announced its approval of a privately funded 25,000 home development in Taffo which will include commercial construction as well as schools and civic buildings (Addis Tribune 4/4/97).

The factor most influential in allowing residents of Addis Ababa a higher quality of life than Ethiopians in rural areas is the availability of education. The city is home to the nation's most prestigeous post-secondary school Addis Ababa University, and several excellent secondary academies. Over 69% of youths 5-11 are enrolled in primary school, while 35% of those eligible for secondary school (12+) attend (Tarver 193).

These enrollment rates contribute to the city's literation (over 82% of residents can read and write: The most commonly used language is Amharic) and suggest improvement in the education in recent years (Tarver 193). High youth education rates are a new trend in Addis Ababa. Adult residents generally had less educational opportunities and only 56% of the literate population has attained primary education (Tarver 193). Approximately 5% have attained post-secondary education in Addis Ababa, most of whom work in government and business administration (Tarver 193).

Despite the problems of water born disease, and the thousands of residents plagued with war-related injuries and illnesses, Addis Ababa has on average, a healthier population than the rest of Ethiopia. Birth rates, infant mortality rates and death rates are lower in the city than in rural areas, clearly a function of a more educated female population and better access to hospitals and other health services (United Nations). The life expectancy for Ethiopia's urban residents is 53 years compared to 48 years for rural people (United Nations). These urban dwellers also benefit from better access to clean water than rural Ethiopians (United Nations).

These projects and future government improvements in access to transportation, health care and education amount to continually bandaging a growing wound. Because Addis Ababa remains a more attractive place to live than Ethiopia's drought starved pastoral lands, growth and current settlement patterns in Addis Ababa are likely to continue.

The city boasts several midrise hotels and commercial buildings near the airports and in the commercial districts, but future growth in Addis Ababa will be horizontal, not vertical. The infrastructure and population density of the capital may change little, while its spatial growth could be enormous. Much of the Eucalyptus forest surrounding Addis Ababa is destined to be overtaken by the outwardly expanding shantytowns of the city.

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