Officials say 15,000 people live in "Maspero Triangle" slum

Khalid Sedek, head of Informal Settlements Development Fund (ISDF) affiliated to Egypt's Ministry of Housing, said that they formed a special committee to study the situation of the residents of Maspero Triangle area in Cairo, totaling 15,000 people. The committee will negotiate with the residents to deliver them to Al Asmarat slum-dweller project, provide financial compensation or build alternative units in the same region.

Sedek said in an interview to Egypt Today that the Maspero area has not been actually developed yet, despite the announcement of the new design of the area and providing alternatives for the people in the region.

He added that there are many dangerous slums in the country including, Smaken slums in Sohag, Ezbet Elsafeh in Mansoura, 11 slums in Alexandria, and Mahfouz slums in Minya which have been developed and became ready for accommodation by the end of this year.

Sedek pointed out that he had signed earlier this month, a cooperation agreement with Hossam El Din Emam, Dakahlia governor, to develop Ezbet Elsafeh in Mansoura, inhabited by about 3,000 people. He added that the ISDF will demolish all the buildings affected by the high voltage transmission towers. He added that the estimated cost of the project is EGP 92m, of which EGP 90m will be provided by ISDF, while the electricity transmission company will bear the rest of the cost.

Sedek said that the ISDF has built 207 housing units and 18 shops at a cost of EGP 35m within a slum-dweller project in Sohag, pointing out that the new houses are 300 meters away from the old slums. He noted that the government aims to apply social justice for all citizens regardless the high cost of the land, unlike what was happening in the past when the slum-dwellers were displaced to remote areas which lack facilities.

Sedek pointed out that there are three ongoing slum-dweller projects in Alexandria, namely Tolmbat Elmax, Chinese Quarries, and Kom El-Malh. He added that about 216 housing units to be built for the residents of Chinese quarries, about 750 units for Kom El-Malh, and 185 units for Tolmbat Elmax, with investments of EGP 100m.

He noted that the ISDF has allocated EGP 200m in the current fiscal year 2016-2017, to develop slum areas in Alexandria.

On the other hand, Cairo Governorate is planning to deliver 7380 housing units as part of the third phase in Al Asmarat slum-dweller project located in Mokattam district early 2017.

Cairo governor Atef Abdel Hamid said that the third phase of Al Asmarat City was implemented by Tahya Misr Fund (Long Live Egypt) in cooperation with Egypt’s Armed Forces Engineering Authority.

The third phase includes a number of buildings and services institutions aimed to form an integrated services safe community for slums’ residents, Abdel Hamid stated.

The Egyptian official further added that 2017 is scheduled to witness the implementation of many residential projects including the first phase of slum-dweller project in El Shabha and Pharoan regions involving about 7720 residential units.

In addition, the governorate will also inaugurate another slum-dweller project in El Khayala, comprising of 3200 residential units, and two others in Al Mahrousa 1, 2 in El-Salam City, which includes 4776 housing units for each, Abdel Hamid clarified.

Abdel Hamid said that the governorate is to develop Tel Al-Aqareb slum and build a new residential community in cooperation the ISDF and Ministry of Housing.

The governorate will develop slum-dweller project cooperation with in Central Military Region, to establish a 815-unit housing community on 11, 5 acres in east Cairo, he added.