Areas within a city characterized by extreme poverty, lack of basic services like sanitation, and high crime rates are geographically defined in human geography. These zones often lack formal property ownership or regulation, contributing to unstable living conditions for residents. An example would be a squatter settlement on the periphery of a large Latin American city, lacking access to clean water and formal employment opportunities.
Understanding the spatial distribution of these areas is crucial for urban planning and policy development. Identifying them allows for targeted interventions aimed at improving living standards and reducing social inequalities. Historically, factors such as rapid urbanization, economic disparities, and ineffective governance have contributed to the formation and persistence of these areas in many urban centers globally. Analyzing their characteristics offers insight into broader issues of social justice and urban sustainability.