2. One of the world’s Mega Cities – population approaching 20 million It suffers from many problems caused by rapid urban growth. People flock to the city from the surrounding rural areas. These can be put into 5 areas: – Noise pollution – Air pollution – Water pollution – Land pollution – Housing Problems Cairo, Egypt – a city in a LIC with a rapidly growing population.

3. Rural to urban migration in Cairo, Egypt

9. Air Pollution: o Caused by transport and industry o Air quality in city is 10-100 times acceptable world levels o In areas, 37% of residents have lung problems o Children have vitamin D deficiency as sun’s rays blocked out o Lead concentration in air has caused 80% rise in tooth decay o Black cloud hovering over city is common o A lot of waste and landfill is burnt openly

10. Noise Pollution: o From millions of vehicles (2 million cars, 200,00 motorbikes, more than a million taxis o loud speakers calling Muslims to prayer o Nightclubs on Nile o Average noise in city is 85 decibels (louder than a freight train 10 metres away o Some call it the ‘city where you can’t hear yourself scream’ Land Pollution: o 10,000 tonnes of solid waste produced a day o Only 60% is collected – rest left in streets, canals and drains o Rats and vermin roam free which carry disease o Toxic stockpiles of hazardous waste

11. Water Pollution: o Caused by domestic and industrial waste water o Streams and canals filled with plastic bags full of solid waste o 80% of industrial waste is put into River Nile = 2.5 million litres a day o Fishing and Tourist industry being damaged o 23% of population not connected to public sewage o 15% of sewage is treated properly o 60% carried raw through canals

12. Housing Problems: o 60% of population live in Shanty towns, like ‘City of Dead’ (used to be a cemetery). Estimates between 30,000 and 1 million people o 80+ shanty towns in Cairo o Caused by the speed and number of people migrating without money and employment to buy house o These areas have grown so quickly that they’re now joined to the main city o People live in slums illegally, with no connection to sewage system