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In This Update:
In Nairobi Slum Mathare, Protesters March Against Police Violence
Following Criticism of its Coronavirus Containment, Singapore Will Rehouse Migrants
The UK Nearly Ended Homelessness During Coronavirus: What Happens Next?
In Addis Ababa, Transportation Hinders Coronavirus Response
Delhi Chief Minister Says State Hospitals Will Only Treat Delhi Residents
NYPD Will Stop Policing Street Vendors, Says Mayor de Blasio
IHC Global Blog: Twelve Years of Supporting Post-Crisis Recovery
In the News And Around the Web
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In Nairobi Slum Mathare, Protesters March Against Police Violence
Residents of the Mathare slum of Nairobi protested police violence earlier this week. The notoriously fraught relationship between police and civilians in Kenya has worsened since the coronavirus outbreak.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority alleges that Nairobi police have killed 15 and injured 31 since they began enforcing the mandated lockdown. One
protester
explained: "We are here to protest against police killing us in the name of protecting us from corona. The police have killed us more than corona."
Protesters
also marched in solidarity with ongoing protests in the United States. On resident asserted: "The poor people of Mathare stand in solidarity with the poor people of America, the black people of America...We want them to know that this struggle is one."
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Following Criticism of its Coronavirus Containment, Singapore Will Rehouse Migrants
The Singaporean government announced it will move 100,000 migrant workers into residential accommodations over the next few years. The decision comes after the city-state received criticism for housing low-income foreign workers in overcrowded dormitories without access to proper hygiene facilities in an effort to contain the spread of the virus among migrant populations.
Migrant workers account for 90% of Singapore's 38,000 coronavirus cases. Some Singaporeans oppose the plan and say that rehousing migrants in residential areas puts security, health, and property at risk. Others question the government's attempt to frame the initiative as one of tolerance, noting that government guidelines still prohibit workers from mingling in their dorms or for leaving for non-work-related reasons.
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The UK Nearly Ended Homelessness During Coronavirus: What Happens Next?
The United Kingdom has nearly ended homelessness during the coronavirus outbreak after mandating that all local governments provide emergency accommodation in budget hotels and pledging $4 million to fund the effort.
Charities say that this shows that decisive government effort and support can quickly and effectively reduce homelessness
. But, as one advocate noted: "Moving people into hotels does not resolve the homelessness. They are still homeless. A hotel is not a home." Furthermore,
a new wave of homelessness may emerge as growing numbers face eviction after being made unemployed by the lockdown. Some also worry about how long funding will last post-pandemic and what will happen when the hotels reopen for regular clients.
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In Addis Ababa, Transportation Hinders Coronavirus Response
In Addis Ababa, transportation challenges are hindering COVID-19 containment, writes Iman Abubaker at
City Fix
. Fundamental transport issues in the city mean it is difficult to restrict travel as basic services are not within walking distance for most people. She urges the city to take the opportunity to improve transit by focusing on transport problems specific to vulnerable populations, tracking and publishing transit data, integrating transport systems, and planning land use and transport together. Abubaker notes: "Strategic decisions now can bolster positive momentum that has been building for years... The response to COVID-19 has disrupted Addis Ababa, but also shown that many of its long-term efforts to improve are in fact headed in the right direction."
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NYPD Will Stop Policing New York Street Vendors, Says Mayor de Blasio
On Sunday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the New York Police Department will stop policing street food vendors and the city will instead create a new civilian agency to oversee them. Street vendors, largely low-income immigrants and people of color, welcomed the announcement as they believe they are often unfairly targeted by the police. The NYPD recently faced criticism for handcuffing a Brooklyn subway churro vendor and for continuing to issue tickets to vendors without permit papers during the pandemic despite downturn in business. Mayor de Blasio did not offer further details about the new agency or address whether street vendors will also continue to fall under the purview of the departments of health, sanitation, and parks as they do now.
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Delhi Chief Minister Says State Hospitals Will Only Treat City Residents
The chief minister of Delhi announced that state hospitals will only see Delhi residents following allegations that the city's hospitals are refusing to admit new patients. On Sunday, the government announced that a person wanting treatment would need to provide proof of residency documents including voter ID cards and electricity, water, or telephone bills. Despite growing COVID-19 cases countrywide, India has continued to relax its strict lockdown. Delhi has recorded 27,000 cases and 761 deaths so far, but an expert committee said that Indian capital could see as many as 100,000 cases by end of June if the current trend continues.
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IHC Global Blog: Twelve Years of Supporting Post-Crisis Recovery
IHC Global published a new blog by Bill Endsley, Principal Consultant for World Citizen Consulting. Endsley reflects on the International Property Markets Scorecard twelve years after its co-development by IHC Global, World Citizen Consulting, and the Center for International Private Enterprise. According to Endsley, the Scorecard, which helps assess the interconnections of property markets, has added significance during the current pandemic. He writes that once again, the Scorecard helps "understand how an unbalanced system - one overly focused on luxury condo towers or one that leaves out minorities, the homeless, or migrant workers - makes recovery from any shock slower and the pain felt by the public more broad and more acute."
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In The News and Around the Web
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American Cities Debate Defunding Police: In the wake of nationwide protests against police violence, American cities debate whether to reduce police department budgets.
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UN-Habitat Launches COVID-19 Tracker Platform:
UN-Habitat launched a COVID-19 Readiness and Responsiveness tracker platform to assess urban preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic and coping since.
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Motorcycle Midwives:
In heavily congested Bangkok, 100 specially trained officers are employed on motorcycles to help women giving birth to reach the hospital or deliver in traffic if needed.
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China's New Stall Economy:
Street vendors in China are often looked down upon, but now the Prime Minister is pushing for city vendors and the "stall economy" to help China's derailed economy get back on track.
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Coronavirus Cases Increase in Some Countries Relaxing Lockdowns:
Countries are relaxing coronavirus lockdown restrictions, but Brazil, Russia, India, and Mexico have seen a sharp increase in cases as they open up.
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Protesters in the Mathare slum of Nairobi demonstrated against police violence on Monday.
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