Unplanned Neighborhoods

The inhabitants of Aleppo's unplanned neighborhoods have been given a rough choice: eviction or resettlement. But both prospects are costly and untenable. Inhabitants have simply nowhere to go as they can hardly afford rents elsewhere. Nor can they afford to make the down-payments, not to mention future installments, of the housing to be provided by the local authorities. To complicate things, local authorities are not exactly paragons of honesty and accountability. Their housing schemes have often tended to fall below below expectations on all fronts, from respecting delivery deadlines to providing agreed amenities and services at advertised costs. As such, entry into any contract with them have often been a losing bet.

So, what alternatives do residents have at the end of the day? Should they riot? Should they move to other unplanned settlements not yet targeted by the local authorities? Or should they simply start new unplanned communities somewhere where official vigilance is currently absent, and where local officials can bribed at more affordable rates to look the other way?

Whatever choice is made it will bode ill for the future of the city, and the country.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Syria
• Aleppo
• Poverty
• Grassroots Outreach
• Activism
• Democracy
• Middle East
• Dissent