The "Area of Risk" Justification for Favela Removals: The Case of Santa Marta

http://rioonwatch.org/?p=11410

In light of the two international events, the 2014 World  Cup and the 2016 Olympics Games, Rio's favelas have been the target for projects of favela eradication and home demolitions. Rio's Mayor Eduardo Paes announced the plan of 5% reduction of favelas and demolitions of residences in 'environmentally risky area', in which most favelas are located.

This is the case for the favela Santa Marta, which for several years has been under the threat of eviction. The residents, whose homes are part of their history and identity, have organized to stop this projects, protesting and taking their fights to court.

In 2010, during the first favela removal phase, evictions were abrupt. As in the case of the favela Metro-Mangueira, residents of the favelas were left in their demolished ruins of their homes. Other than the psychological state of frustration and despair, the residents were exposed to increased risk of diseases as dengue.

Beginning in 2008, Police Pacification Units (UPP) have been implemented in many favelas. In order to create a 'safer' environment for the million of tourists estimated for the 2014 World Cup, the policy approach to urban poverty in Rio underwent a switch from 'urban upgrading' to 'pacification'. The main goal of the UPP is not to stop criminality and end drug trafficking, but instead to take back territories controlled by drug factions. Recently, bringing social services and social investments started to take place in a few favelas. As a result of this policy approach, crime rates have been significantly decreasing.