An overhead photograph captures a densely packed urban compound in Dar es-Salaam, Tanzania, viewed from an elevated position, likely a building window or balcony

An overhead photograph captures a densely packed urban compound in Dar es-Salaam, Tanzania, viewed from an elevated position, likely a building window or balcony. The immediate foreground features a concrete window ledge, weathered with peeling paint, and a black window frame. Black electrical cables are visible on the ledge, some connected to an external air conditioning unit on the right. The central scene depicts an open-air courtyard-like area, heavily cluttered with debris, light-colored refuse, and various makeshift structures. The ground surface is uneven and covered extensively with trash. Numerous temporary shelters and extensions feature corrugated iron roofs, some rusted reddish-brown, others grey. One structure in the mid-left has a prominent greenish-blue tarp roof. A blue and white patterned umbrella provides shade in another section. The compound is characterized by the presence of multiple black plastic water storage tanks of varying cylindrical and squat designs, situated both on the ground and on lower rooftops. Two white satellite dishes are visible on a flat concrete rooftop in the upper-mid section. Piles of diverse waste and materials are scattered throughout. On the far left, the roof of a light-colored vehicle, possibly a van or car, is partially visible. The compound is surrounded by multi-story urban buildings, consistent with residential or mixed-use structures. These buildings feature numerous windows, some with security bars, and external air conditioning units mounted on their facades. Sparse, overgrown vegetation is present on some flat rooftops. No specific human figures or active interactions are discernible within the frame. The scene is illuminated by natural daylight, suggesting an overcast sky or diffuse lighting conditions.