Amman lies on the seven hills or jabals occupying a total land area of 688km2. Over the past decades, the city experienced rapid urbanization and surging growth of population. In 1943, Amman had only 30,000 inhabitants. The City grew to become an overcrowded metropolitan center with a population of 2.2 million (as of 2004) due to the influx of Palestinian refugees, a high birth rate, and internal migration.
Jordan has an annual urban growth rate of approximately 4-5 percent. The Amman Metropolitan Area which includes the cities of Amman, Zarqa, Ruseifa and surrounding areas accounts for more than 50 percent of the country’s population, 80 percent of the nation’s industrial sector, and 55 percent of country’s employment.
These developments have led to the haphazard construction of buildings and the encroachment of people in geologically unsafe areas that contribute to the city dwellers’ vulnerability to natural and man-made hazards.
The Government’s National Disaster Response Master Plan identifies the following main hazards in Jordan: earthquakes, flash floods, drought, locusts, weather emergencies such as snowstorms and frost, as well as, man-made hazards such as fires, hazardous chemicals, biological and radioactive contamination, armed conflict and mass population migration.
For more information, please visit www.cityriskpedia.com.
Greater Amman Municipality’s Vision: “A livable city is an organized city with a soul”
A comprehensive land use and development Master Plan has been developed to turn the City’s vision into action. It will:
- Institute and promote measures to capitalize on, protect, and promote Amman’s natural environment, topography, landscape, and climate;
- Respect and restore Amman’s culture and heritage—its monuments and structures, its people’s way of life and hospitality; and
- Ensure that while Amman grows and develops in size, amenities, and facilities, it retains its soul of simplicity and modesty
GAM recognizes the importance of an effective disaster risk management program that ensures public safety and supports the City’s development goals. And the development of GAM’s DRMMP will fill in those gaps as it lay down clear DRM framework, policies, and systems for an effective enforcement of the City’s DRM program.
