Amnesty International has made an urgent plea to the Egyptian government to find alternative housing for 200 now homeless families in Ezbat Abu Regaila located in the north east of Cairo, after a sewage channel broke, flooding and damaging their homes.
In a report on Tuesday, the organization described how “Ezbat Abu Regaila lies along a narrow channel of raw sewage.”
It went on to say that one resident died after a live wire came into contact with the sewage water in the channel, and that, when the Salam neighborhood sent over a truck to haul out the body, the truck broke the channel wall, causing sewage waters to flood into residents' homes.
Amnesty also said the families are now forced to sleep in the alleyways near their destroyed homes to protect what remains of their property, adding that they are living in the dark, protected against stray animals and any other dangers they face in the remote area only by firelight. Amnesty went on to say that local Egyptian authorities have not provided the families with temporary shelter or alternative housing.
The international lobby group urged Egyptian authorities to provide immediate shelter and assistance to the afflicted families, reminding the government of its obligation to protect its citizens, who have the right to adequate housing. Amnesty also urged the government to compensate the families for their losses and to take necessary measures to protect health and safety and respect agreements made against forced evictions.
Amnesty said the Egyptian Center for Housing Rights has filed a complaint to the Public Prosecutor against Cairo’s Governor on behalf of the families, and that although Cairo’s governor announced the existence of apartments in 6 October City for residents living in unsafe areas of Cairo, including Ezbat Abu Regaila, residents were not consulted on the plans, either regarding the development or the removal of such areas.
