Urban Safety is a Tool for Containing Slums to Reach a Sustainable Urban Structure

We typically find that slums are populated by people with relatively low incomes and a modest standard of living. Most slums have been associated with the spread of crime due to the pervasive sense of social inequality, division, and urban exclusion, which create a suitable environment for criminals [10]. For instance, a study titled “Urban growth and its impact on shaping patterns of deviant behavior in society” concluded that 93.3% of criminal activities and health violations are attributed to slums in the city of Jeddah. This percentage is notably high, particularly when compared to planned areas, where such issues are nearly non-existent. The study also warned that slums are potential time bombs that may explode at any moment, leading to a segment of the teenage and young adult population becoming victims of drugs and crime (www.okaz.com.sa).

In addition, some slums serve as a haven for outlaws and drug traffickers, attracting individuals involved in social corruption and causing disturbances for the neighboring communities [11, 12].

Informal areas often experience environmental degradation. The environment is often unclean due to inadequate waste disposal methods, narrow and irregular transport roads, and a lack of sanitation and community services from health or educational institutions. This situation is reflected in the deterioration of public health and the spread of diseases [13]. Slums are characterized by a significant lack of social services, including social, administrative, educational, health, entertainment, and marketing institutions [14]. Additionally, poorly lit streets, sidewalks, and roads contribute to insecurity, especially at night. it is also characterized by its lack of connection to drinking water, sewage, and electricity networks. In urban areas, the infrastructure is deteriorating, and the buildings are densely packed with residential units constructed using basic materials [15]. Slums are known for their high population and housing densities, and the absence of green spaces. Serious social problems are also exacerbated, including the spread of unemployment, homelessness, the housing crisis, and increased pressure on public services to meet the needs of the residents. According to Patel and Shah [5], it is also a hotspot for the spread of diseases [16, 17].

The overall population density of the slums in Najaf was 0.56 people per square kilometer, as reported by the Ministry of Planning for the year 2018. The reason for this is the rise in population numbers due to an increase in births and immigration.

Critics may argue that the primary causes of crime and insecurity are not inherent to slums, but rather stem from societal inequalities and poverty [18]. Several other important factors to consider include the lack of social services, inadequate management, and political instability.

From the foregoing, we can derive the most important indicators affecting urban safety and its primary causes, as detailed in Table 1.

Table 1. The indicators of urban safety

 After reviewing and studying previous research, the research problem and hypothesis were developed to identify the knowledge gap that requires further investigation. It was observed that there is a lack of studies examining the relationship between urban security, urban containment, and slums in order to establish a sustainable spatial structure. The research aimed to explore this relationship using various indicators for urban security and urban containment. A questionnaire was designed for a random sample of 50 experts. Subsequently, the research questions' consistency will be assessed during the analysis using Cronbach's Alpha to ensure the validity of the study tool. Regression analysis will be conducted to formulate a multiple linear regression equation for the questionnaire results, aiming to investigate the relationship and impact of the sustainability dimensions of urban containment. These dimensions have been classified in each of the dimensions (societal, urban, social, economic, institutional) are symbolized by (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5) respectively, on the dependent variable (urban security), symbolized by the symbol Y. Therefore, the equation for multiple linear regression is as follows (Eq. (1)):

$Y=a+b 1 x 1+b 2 X 2+b 3 x 3+b 4 X 4+b 5 X 5$                  (1)

where, a: constant value – b1 coefficient of the first independent variable – b2 coefficient of the second independent variable ... etc.

X1: First Independent Variable – X2 Second Independent Variable ... etc. Figure 1 illustrates the Methodology of the research.

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Figure 1. Methodology of the research

4.1 Study area: Barrakia slum

The area is situated in the city of Kufa, within the province of Najaf. Approximately 90% of the housing in this area is informal, and the province of Najaf is making efforts to designate it as one of the slums in need of development due to its significant impact on the city. This motivated the practical aspect of the research to study this area.

The area is situated in the southern part of the city of Kufa, as depicted in Figure 2. There has been a significant and rapid increase in informal housing, especially following the events of the Iraq war after 2003. This is due to the weakened law enforcement and the displacement of large numbers of citizens from other provinces to the city of Najaf.

Figure 3 illustrates the comparison of housing status before and after 2003, demonstrating the shift of the area from predominantly agricultural to mainly residential. Hypothesis testing in multiple linear regression:

1- There is no effect of the dimensions of the independent variables (urban containment) on the dependent variable (urban safety). H1: M ≠ 0

2. The dimensions of the independent variable have an effect on the dependent variable, where H0=M=0. The error level is 0.05, and the confidence level is 0.95, using the multiple linear regression model as shown in Eq. (1).

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Figure 2. Location of Al-Barrakia slum from Kufa and Iraq

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(A) Al-Barrakia in 2003

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(B) Al-Barrakia in 2020

Figure 3. Al-Barrakia between 2003 & 2020 [29, 30]

The population in the area is approximately 150,000 to 200,000 people. According to the census of the selected area (due to the lack of data in state departments), there are about 25,000 housing units. The number of residents per household is high, ranging from 6 to 8 family members. The area has very few services compared to the high number of housing units, making it difficult to provide services to the residents without removing part of their homes.

For the purpose of studying urban safety indicators in the Brrakia area, 383 forms were prepared and distributed to a sample of residents, which is the optimal sample size for the community's population.

4.2 Study of urban safety indicators in the Barrakia AREA

Al-Barrakia lacks essential services such as healthcare, sanitation, environmental restoration, security, and basic amenities, including educational services. There are no schools at any level, contributing to widespread illiteracy among its children. A report from the Iraqi Ministry of Health, issued by the Communicable Diseases and Epidemiology Surveillance Department, highlights the prevalence of diseases in the majority of slums, which are often located near areas designated for waste disposal. Providing services is challenging for several reasons, including the informal nature of the housing and potential government denial of its existence. Political instability has also led to the disruption of essential services. this has posed a challenge for local governments in providing assistance to those in need and maintaining the provision of basic services. The most significant reasons include a lack of funding. Local governments often do not have the necessary funding to provide basic services, leading to a shortage of resources and infrastructure, as well as weak coordination, planning, and implementation. Sustainability involves prioritizing the provision of essential services for all slum residents, particularly infrastructure services, both now and in the future. This is especially crucial given the limited funding available for developing policies and programs that ensure a high quality of life for citizens. The development goals and sustainable development goals call for ensuring access to sustainable services and adopting quick, long-term solutions. One of the most significant challenges for sustainability is the scarcity of essential services like water and sanitation, as well as limited access to safe transportation services, coupled with high levels of poverty. The problem here is not only the access to the service but also its efficiency. The constant demand creates additional pressure on resources, which is exacerbated by the weak response of the responsible authorities in addressing these needs. Consequently, neglecting slums leads to numerous problems in terms of urban safety, as indicated by numerous studies in this field. The concept of sustainability is inseparable from the economic, social, and cultural rights of individuals, as well as human rights related to participation and empowerment.

4.3 Successful case studies

There are no unified urban containment tools for cities, as they may differ to stop the economic, social and physical deterioration of urban areas and move towards sustainable development that includes everyone in their cities.

Singapore: Redevelopment of poor and dilapidated urban areas through partnership with the private sector [31].

City of Santiago (Chile): Use of national housing support for reconstruction.

Seoul city: The population of slums has become more than twice the city's general average. Seoul launched the Revitalization Project to redevelop an 18-lane overpass highway into a modern path with a total of 16.3 hectares of green public space [32].

Jordan: Owning land for residents, developing housing, and providing infrastructure

This part will be studied urban safety indicators in AL-Barakia, some of the data was obtained through a questionnaire of the reality of the study area, some of them through interviews with people working in the municipality of Kufa and the Directorate of Urban Planning, and some during the field study and observation, and pictures of the area were also taken, and this was difficult for researchers due to the deterioration of the security situation [33].

1. Social problems:

The study field indicates that there are several crimes spread in Al-Barrakia. This is because it is one of the most frequent areas of drug addiction. Most of the crimes that have been recorded were answered by 60% refers to theft crimes, 35% of them indicated that they are crimes resulting from quarrels with hands with different weapons. 5% were exposed to crimes whose cause is not yet known.

2. Sense of security:

80% of the respondents indicated that they do not feel safe in their homes, not even when they go shopping, and 10% of the sample agree in an average way with a weak sense of security and 10% find that they do not care about it, and we note that these 10% were within the units that live closer to the main street and the neighboring official area.

3. Satisfaction with the residential environment:

76% of the sample indicated dissatisfaction with the general residential environment, citing issues such as unkempt houses, a lack of green areas, poor sanitation, and accessibility problems. They also reported high crime rates, a disintegrated community, social isolation, and restricted access to healthcare and education as part of the social environment. The state of the economy was also a concern, with mentions of destitution, unemployment, and a lack of job opportunities. Some families do not have sufficient income to support themselves and are forced to beg in nearby areas. The field study revealed poor structural conditions of buildings and the widespread presence of waste, as depicted in Figure 4 and Figure 5. In contrast, 24% of the sample indicated moderate satisfaction.

4. Social interaction:

Through the field visit, we noticed the absence of any of the positive urban components, the absence of green areas and spaces that encourage social communication and children playing in the yards near their homes. Moreover, there is a lack of enrollment in school, especially primary school students due to the distance of schools from their areas of residence.

5. Infringement on infrastructure services:

It is worth noting that the majority of the residences have resolved their infrastructure needs through self-reliance, bypassing the neighboring areas' infrastructure services. They have provided their own electrical energy, as depicted in Figure 6, and do not have access to the sewage network. Instead, they have implemented temporary solutions using containers. Additionally, they have bypassed the drinking water networks from neighboring areas.

Neighboring residents are disturbed by these behaviors because they experience inadequate services in general, as a result of pressure from offenders. Additionally, they feel fear and discomfort due to the presence of informal housing in their vicinity.

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Figure 4. The spread of waste in the Barrakia area

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Figure 5. The deteriorating state of the housing construction in the Barrakia area

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Figure 6. Infringement of infrastructure in the Barrakia

6. Access to transport networks and the construction status of roads:

We noticed that there are no lines for the public transport network, but there are some residential units whose owners’ own vehicles (taxis) for work and some of them are personal transport (Figure 7). There are no regular streets neither straightening nor in the construction situation (Figure 8).

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Figure 7. Personal transport cars in Al-Barrakia

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Figure 8. Streets in Al-Barrakia

7. Employment:

The percentage indicates that 53% of the sample size owns a job, of which 25% work in government departments, 27% work on daily wages according to the availability of the opportunity to work as construction workers, and 20% do not have any job opportunity.

8. Involving citizens in slum upgrading projects

The study field showed and by people working in government departments that the area of Al-Barrakia was chosen from among the slums that will be developed after its population exceeded 25 thousand people. The people demand to improve their service reality through demonstrations and appeals, but when the residents were asked about their involvement in development projects, 80% of the sample answered that no one involved them in the Al-Barrakia development project, and no one from officials heard from them about what their needs and requests are. 20% are not even aware of the inclusion of their area in the development project.

After studying the reality of the situation of the Barrakia area, we will study the relationship between it and the indicators of urban containment of slums, the results of the questionnaires for the study area and the questionnaire of specialists, we will investigate the validity of the study tool through the analysis of Alpha Cronbach and then the analysis Correlation analysis of the variables under study using multiple linear regression to reach conclusions and recommendations

4.4 Validity and stability of the measurement tool for the study

Content truthfulness or apparent truthfulness (Validity): In order to confirm that the study tool's content is valid and that it fulfills the study's objectives, it was given to a group of arbitrators with expertise in sustainability. They were asked to review the tool and provide feedback on its suitability for the indicator given the content, as well as whether it was adequate in terms of the number of paragraphs, comprehensiveness, diversity of content, and output, as well as any appropriate comments about amendment, change, or deletion in accordance with the arbitrator's opinion when the (Stability) the Cronbach's alpha coefficient (stability coefficient Alpha Cronbach's) was measured, which is used to know the internal consistency whose value ranges between (0-1) and the value is statistically acceptable when it is 60% and more This means that reusing the tool under the same conditions will lead to the same results, and the results were as in the Table 3.

Table 3. the results of Alpha Cronbach's analysis

It is clear from Table 3 that the value of the Cronbach alpha coefficient for the questionnaire items was (0.72) and this indicates that there is a high internal consistency of the questionnaire items, which is statistically acceptable and confirms the stability of the measurement tool and the possibility of its application.

For the purpose of arranging paragraphs on the basis of their importance in terms of the least coefficient of difference, we note that the respondents correspond to the economic and social axis.

4.5 Discussion of results

The Table 4 represents the statistical analysis of the questionnaire (Mean, Standard deviation, ratio of answers, T test, sample orientation) for the answers. Through the table, we note that question No. (9), which is (finding job opportunities to reduce youth unemployment), which is dependent on the economic dimension, and according to the responses of the respondents, they were completely in agreement with 99.5% Creating job opportunities for slum dwellers would work on Improving urban safety with an arithmetic mean equal to 4.64 and a standard deviation of 0.63, which was confirmed by the T test that there is statistical significance in the respondents' responses, Ensuring a decent living includes access to services such as housing, transportation, health care, and education.

Table 4. Questionnaire analyses of indicators of urban containment

Table 5. SPSS correlation calculation table

Table 6. Multiple linear regression results

Hence, urban safety relates to family conditions, which are reflected as responses to the urban structure. Therefore, responsible authorities must focus more on improving the economic conditions of residents, which leads to improving the quality of life. Therefore, we find that it is ranked first according to the answer ranks of the requirements, which is reflected in improving per capita income. followed by the importance of the need to reduce social inequality and increase social ties, while most respondents find that the weakest indicators for urban safety is to achieve a good pedestrian environment and develop the capabilities of workers to prepare and allocate projects other indicators cited are more important for urban safety.

To determine the correlation of the five dimensions that have been derived in urban containment and its impact on urban safety, the analysis will be done by correlation coefficients and coefficient of determination using the statistical analysis program (SPSS v.29).

To extract the coefficients of independent variables (urban containment variables) on the independent variable (urban safety) through multiple linear regression analysis, the results were as in Table 6.

We note the value of the coefficient of determination (0.941) in Table 5. SPSS correlation calculation, meaning that the dimensions that were extracted were able to interpret by (94.1%) of the possibility of achieving urban safety, while the remaining percentage is explained by other indicators not included in the research. To confirm the response of the dimensions of urban inclusion to the impact on the level of urban safety, the value of t=2.357, which is greater than the tabular value of 2.000, in statistical terms of 0.001, which is less than 0.05, can be seen from the observation value of f The calculated is (5.216), which is greater than its tabular value (3.232) with a level of statistical significance (Sig=0.006), which is less than (0.05), which means that the multiple regression model is a statistically significant model with a significance level of (0.006) and this confirms the existence of the effect of independent variables on the dependent variable.