Slums are quite prevalent all over the
world. Whether it’s a busy metropolitan city or a quaint coastal town, slums
can be found in almost anywhere. But what’s fascinating is that they exist even
in places where one would least expect even poor people to live. Here we take a
look at such unique settings where slums coexist alongside the rich and wealthy
abodes.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Though it’s hard to believe, the scenic
city of Vancouver is also a victim of this urban deterioration. Encompassing
buildings that line the sky, and locales that have some of the best views in
the world, the city is also the home to one of the most densely populated
slums. Located on the eastern end of the Main Street, the downtown eastside
region houses the poorest in the Canadian metropolitan. Despite being named as
one of the top five livable cities in the world, the downtown eastside is one
region where no one would even dare enter. Filled with stolen goods markets,
brothels, drug dealer outlets, and gambling circuits, the region is pretty much
the safe house for the criminals of the city. Also the ever-growing number of
HIV positive people living in the locale, and the innumerable cases of HepatitisC reported in the region, make this one of the worst places to lead a hygienic
lifestyle. The only cheerful thing about this slum is that all its residents
and their proactive businesses have been contained within an 18-km radius.
Caged slums of Hong Kong
The bustling port city of Hong Kong,
despite its prosperity and wealth is home to some of the poorest people as
well. And they don’t just live in regular slums filled with makeshift homes and
plastic roofs, but in an array of cages that mildly resemble a chicken coop.
Right across the busy shopping streets of the city, lays this unique setup of
cages that are no larger than a regular size coffin, stacked upon each other.
The people who live in the cages, have barely enough headroom to sleep, lack
the concept of privacy completely, and have no access to any benefits the
society has to offer. And yet, thousands move in each year to these slums and
actually consider themselves lucky for getting at least such an accommodation.
Despite the city’s efforts to relocate them, conditions only seem to get worse.
Paris, France
Paris might be the last city that may prop
up on anyone’s mind when thinking about slums. But the romantic city, amidst
all the topiary lined streets and
the exquisite cafes has a dark secret as well – La Courneuve. Declared as a ‘no
enter zone’ for regular residents, the gray slum is the home to the immigrant
population from Roma and Middle East, who arrived at the city looking for
better prospects but ended up suffering worse. With no access to proper food,
running water, and no prospect of getting a job, the residents spend their days
getting high on drugs and selling them as well to earn a living.
