Egypt grants 89 shop owners at slum area $2.1M to move

CAIRO – 17 June 2021: The municipal authority of Cairo designated Thursday LE33 million ($2.1million) as compensations to 89 shop owners who are being moved from Batn Al Baqara slum area, although they are squatters.

The price of the square meter has been estimated at LE2,000 ($127.8). But, the minimum amount of compensation per owner is LE75,000 ($4,792), even if the shop is smaller than the value.

Batn Al Baqara slum area was formed in Old Cairo (Medieval Cairo) and housed 2,000 families by the time alternative housing was offered for them. The target is demolishing 730 buildings in the slum area spanning over 32 feddans.

Until May, 900 families – that used to dwell 262 buildings - received – in Al Asmarat neighborhood - three-bedroom fully-furnished residential units having living-dining area, and equipped with home appliances. Al Asmarat includes facilities like schools, youth (sport) center, and healthcare units.