Contrasting places (Social inequality) - Jembatah Besi, Jakarta, Indonesia

Why was it created

Housing crisis - not enough affordable housing and gov. didn’t have enough resources

How big is it

0.5 km²

Population

31,000

Where is it

4km from city centre, next to cilliwung river

What percent of employment is informal

60%

What sector is majority of employment

industrial/informal

What are some of the negatives of the ‘self employment’ informal industry

Unreliable income and vulnerable employment

Examples of informal jobs

Food, textiles

Average income of informal industry

$4 / day

Example of formal work

Garment industry (factories found in the slums)

Downsides of working in the garment industry

Overcrowded, overworked, underpaid and poor health and safety

What materials used for lower floors of houses

Timber/brick

Why are extra stories added to houses

Overcrowdign

What materials are used to build extra floors

Scrap metal/ spare wood

What is used as fuel

Kerosene

What hazards does kerosene pose

It is a pollutant, gas causes respiratory issues. Very flammable + poor materials of buildings (scrap metal) can lead to fire hazards

Characteristics of mains electricity in slum

DIY, bare lightbulbs and exposed wires

Due to narrow alleys and crowded houses, buildings often

lack sunlight

What is the slum built on

Waste tip.

How is cholera and typhoid spread?

No clean running water so residents drink contaminated water

What is the source of water?

Groundwater from wells or pumps - contaminated from being built on a waste tip.

How is malaria spread in the area?

Hot climate breeds mosquitoes, no vaccinations to prevent spread of malaria

How is Scurvy/ Rickets a threat to those living in the slums?

Food being expensive means people have poor diets, so lack veg and nutrients causing malnurtrition

Who are at risk for dehydration?

Young and elderly -

What is the air quality like?

Poor. Industry nearby produces excess smog - blown over

What is the sanitation situation?

Most homes don’t have toilets, so public ones run for profit. Waste flushed in the streets

What is the education situation?

Poorly funded, kids often prioritised to work over learning. Young girls work in informal garment sector over learning.

What is the future for Jembatan Besi?

Housing buildings agency identified 392 buildings that need fixing, poor materials replaced with bricks and water sanitation installed.

Negatives of the ‘future’ for the slum?

Residents of unsafe housing are being cleared from the slum - leaving them entirely homeless.