Risk and Vulnerability Assessment of Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Other similar efforts have been made to either improve conditions for or move people from these areas of highest risk, particularly in the neighborhoods of La Zurza and La Ciénega. These neighborhoods are among the poorest and located in the areas most susceptible to natural hazards in the Distrito Nacional.(RESURE) Other neighborhoods that are equally poor, with similar environmental hazards are Gualey, Puerto Isabela, Escanche Capotillo, Simón Bolivar, 24 de Abril, and Domingo Salvo. These neighborhoods represent a contiguous belt along the southwestern shores of the Isabel and Ozama Rivers. Another defining feature of these neighborhoods is the canyon, or the “cañada.” The cañada is the natural watershed drainage and is typically unsuitable for development, (Sletto) which is why the poorest people settle there—albeit illegally— because it is the only available land. Each of these neighborhood has a cañada, which is a continuous source of health and environmental risk.

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