Perceived Effects of Development-Induced Displacement on Low-Income Households in Addis Ababa

Abstract

The profile of Addis Ababa city has been changing due to the promotion of privatization, slum area clearance, construction of condominium houses, and conversion of agricultural fields in the suburbs to urban lands.Hundreds of low-income households have been displaced and, as an aftermath, were adversely affected by this development-induced displacement.The objective of this study was to describe and explore the perceived social and psychological effects of the "development-induced displacement" on a sample of Twenty-three purposefully selected participants in Addis Ababa.Data were collected from those low-income households who were originally residing in Kebele houses around Tikur Anbessa Hospital and later resettled into one of the suburbs of Addis Ababa called "Jemo Three Condominium site" through open-ended interviews and questionnaire.As expected, findings have indicated that displacing people from the inner city to new resettlement sites in the outskirts was associated with social breakdowns (such as frustration to form close relationship with neighbors and absence of warm and trusting relationship) as well as psychological problems (like lack of confidence and motivation to earn a living and poor self-esteem).The finding also indicated that the displacement has additionally created loss of jobs, incurred high transport costs, and challenged access to education and healthcare.The damage caused by resettlement on poor resettles far outweighs its benefits and, therefore, the government needs to revisit its housing strategy.