Leila, 70, spent the night on the street as her house was damaged from the explosion at the Italian Consulate.
“The officials said they will take care of me after they fix the damage of the consulate,” she said. “I am offended.”
“The lives of dozens of families living on Al-Zaher, Sharkas and the Italian School streets have gone from bad to worse,” said Salwa Tawfik, who also had to spent the night on the street because the staircase of her house collapsed and the balconies cracked from the explosion. She sent her children to stay with their uncle, while her sick father went to stay in a small pancake shop that he owns on the main street.
“We fear the officials would force us to evacuate,” said Amal Ahmed with her clothes stained black from the dust of the rubble.
Umm Hassan said she borrowed money to buy this vending machine and sell soft drinks. “It was the only means of income,” she said. “Now it is gone.”
Many residents blame the Muslim Brotherhood, though the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack. “To hell with the Brotherhood and their terrorism. It all began when their deposed president signaled with his hand at his trial that they will slaughter us all,” Ahmed said.
The residents said the security measures taken after the explosion were weak, with only two security vehicles deployed to guard the place. The Italian School Street, on which the blast took place, was closed with concrete barriers, and the ruined building was covered with large green curtains. Only one of the three water pipelines that were damaged has been repaired. And the street vendors who were displaying their merchandise on the pavements were asked to leave. They too cursed the Brotherhood.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
