High Risk Yet Home to Thousands: The Makeshift Towns at the Mercy of Landslides and Floods in Peru
Like many informal settlements, communities that have sprung up on the edges of Ayacucho in the Andes are on the frontline of extreme weather events
TL;DR
- Informal settlements on the outskirts of Ayacucho, Peru, are on the frontlines of extreme weather events like floods and landslides.
- Mollepata, an informal settlement, has grown rapidly, with a large portion of its population living in high-risk areas lacking basic services.
- Climate change is exacerbating risks with more intense storms and water shortages in Ayacucho.
- Authorities are working with community leaders to integrate informal settlements into urban planning, improve infrastructure, and manage disaster risks.
- Challenges include resource constraints, the high cost of integration, and the continuous emergence of new settlements in risky zones.
- Relocation is suggested as a solution, but there are no funding programs for it, and residents are hesitant to leave due to affordability and proximity to livelihoods.