With its green fields, red-brick buildings, irrigation canals and livestock farming, Warraq -located in Giza governorate and home to around 100,000 people - is just a ferry ride away from Cairo's traffic-choked streets.
CARIO, EGYPT - Residents of a Nile island in greater Cairo woke up in recent weeks to find officials taking measurements of their houses -- a final step before enforcing demolition orders.
Minister of Housing Assem al-Gazzar has labelled those who oppose the redevelopment as "divisive forces of evil", calling the old buildings "dilapidated"."We pay our taxes, our water and power bills, why can't we benefit from the development of our island?" he said.Authorities "gave some residents four days to leave their homes" in late July, a resident in his fifties told AFP, also requesting anonymity for security reasons.
The project for the capital's largest island was reactivated under current President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose other "mega projects" include a sparkling new capital rising from the sands 50 kilometres east of Cairo. At least one person was killed after the operation triggered clashes between residents and security forces.
"Kamel was one of the most committed activists in tracking state violations against Coptic displacement due to security concerns or urban development initiatives," historian Amy Fallas told AFP, referring to Egypt's main Christian minority. One-third of Egypt's 103 million people live in poverty, according to World Bank figures, with another third vulnerable to becoming destitute."Historic and traditional districts of Cairo are being destroyed" so workers can reach the new area, he said.
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