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According to Chataway and Allen, "modernization, development and industrialization have sometimes been treated as synonymous concepts" (2000, p.510). Hence for the last many years industrialization has been considered as a way out of poverty for many countries. As a result many countries have designed industrial development strategies to foster the growth of the economy and development´. This move has not fully considered the negative effects of the processes of industrialisation on the physical environment and human beings. Research done in the past also focused on exploring/discussing the effects of the processes of industrialisation on the physical environment such as water bodies and the pollution effects of manufacturing industries on the physical environment. These research have neglected their direct effects on the vulnerable urban communities residing and working in the different industries, especially manufacturing industries.

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Yidnekachew Tilahun, Studied Geography in Addis Ababa University from 1991-1999 and Development Studies at Kimmage Development Studies, Dublin, Ireland. Currently working as Programme officer in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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