This is a difficult and really deep problem with no clear answers. Sure the local population are doing their best "building a future for themselves", but they

This is a difficult and really deep problem with no clear answers. Sure the local population are doing their best "building a future for themselves", but they are also driven to build structures that are totally unsafe in a serious earthquake. This is the main difference between one country's 7.0 quake killing tens or hundreds, yet another country's 7.0 (or even 6.0) killing tens or hundreds of thousands. The solution is definitely not just marching in and offering a new cheap design for a single family house. The solution has to include an answer to the question: how do you get the local government to see the real equation. (economic cost of reduced economic output from early death from early mortality) MUCH GREATER THAN (cost of making sure everyone has a safe and secure home).