The mount Cameroon Hazard Prone Littoral Slope Population: Victims of a Poor History or Poor Planning of Urban Development Space?

Abstract

A topical urban development issue of the 21st century in developing countries is how to
sustainably provide for more than half of its burgeoning populations. Development
geographers have focused on mitigating floods, urban land degradation and spontaneous
settlements. This study examines the plight of the urban disadvantaged persons that occupy
disadvantaged sites exposing themselves to site environmental risks and hazards around
the maritime and continental contact point of Cameroon. The problem of urban poverty and
hazard interplay especially landslides defies the quality of urban life and environment and
therefore justifies the assumption that in the course of history, there has been a direct
relationship between the scarcity of appropriate urban development space and the degree of
vulnerability to site related hazards. Field and documentary techniques were used to collect
and treat data and the results indicate that the relationship is directly proportional and lack of
space for past and contemporary historical reasons requires urgent attention. This study
aims at creating awareness on the existing poverty situation and to those already settled in
low class residential areas, as well as urban dwellers in such landslide prone areas to know
the risks they are exposed to.

Keywords: Vulnerability, urbanization, poverty, landslides, hazards