Preventive Resettlement of Populations at Risk of Disaster - GFDRR

ments (IDs), occupation, education level, monthly income
and expenditures, use of the health system, characteristics
of the houses, public utilities connections,
and forms of participation.
The results showed that the Nueva Esperanza population
had highly diverse origins (from four different regions
of Colombia—Andean, Caribbean, Pacific and
Orinoquia). A total of 1,099 households and 4,632 people
were identified. Most had migrated to Bogotá for job
opportunities, schooling and to be near to relatives.
A smaller percentage were families from Bogotá who
were paying rent, and they bought lots in Nueva Esperanza
from illegal urban developers with the idea
of becoming owners and not having to pay rent. Four
percent of households had been displaced by armed
conflict, some of them indigenous people from various
ethnic groups or Afro-Colombians. The diverse origins
created a complex web of inter-cultural relations with a
mix of (previous) small farmers, indigenous and Afrodescendants,
which were reflected in different types of
leadership.
There were an average of four people per household;
women accounted for 51 percent and men 49 percent.
Just over half (51 percent) were under 17 years of age,
47 percent were economically active adults, and 1.6
percent were elderly. Of the women, 3,183 (69 percent)
were single, 1,017 (22 percent) lived with partners, 232
(5 percent) were married, 139 (3 percent) were separated
and 61 (1.3 percent) were widows. Sixteen percent of
households were headed by women.
With regard to education, 49 percent had completed
primary school, 23 percent secondary school, less than
1 percent had technical or higher education, 10 percent
were illiterate, and 17 percent did not provide information.
Most of the population worked in the informal sector
either as street vendors, waste collectors, maids, or in
small home-based businesses. Approximately 9 percent
worked in factories or construction, or as security
guards. A high percentage was unemployed. Jobs were
normally performed outside the neighborhood. The vast
majority earned less than a minimum wage and only 3
percent earned more than 1.5 minimum legal wages 10
(CVP, 2008b).
Regarding health services, 80 percent had access to government-subsidized
health care, 9 percent were covered
by premium-based health insurance plans, 5 percent
had no access at all and 6 percent did not report any
information
Just less than a half (49 percent) the households had
lived in the neighborhood from 1-5 years, almost a third
(31 percent) from 6-10 years, 14 percent from 11-15
years and 6 percent for 16 years or more, which explains
the dynamics of the neighborhood’s settlements.
Given the poor socio-economic conditions, the houses
were highly vulnerable (Figure 5.4). At the same time,
the population was also vulnerable to being displaced
because of low income, zero capacity to save or have access
to bank loans, the type of land rights, and the low
value of houses. For these reasons, they could not afford
adequate, safe houses.
10
The minimum legal wage in Colombia in 2008 was US$265 a month.
70 Preventive Resettlement of Populations at Risk of Disaster: Experiences from Latin America