Egypt gives compensations to relatives of Imbaba Church fire victims

CAIRO – 14 August 2022: Egyptian authorities announced that the families of the victims killed in the huge fire that swept through the Coptic Church in Imamba, Giza, will receive LE 100,000 in compensation each.

Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli and the minister of social solidarity announced the compensation, saying that each injured citizen will receive LE 20,000 depending on the severity of the casualty.

A total of 41 people and 12 others were injured in the fire at the Abo Sefein Church in Imbaba district in Giza Governorate on Sunday, mostly due to suffocation and stampede.

A priest, Abdel Maseeh Bakhit, died in the Abu Seifein Church fire on Sunday, according to a church statement.

Reports say that many of the victims are children because the nursery attached to the church was one of the most affected buildings.

Minister Madbouli and a number of ministers headed to the site to inspect it.

Four fire trucks rushed to the scene in a bid to contain the blaze, and the police cordoned the place off. Fire fighters began the cooling operations to make sure that the fire would not erupt again given the high temperature and the availability of large quantities of wood inside the church.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi directed all relevant state institutions to immediately take all necessary measures to deal with this incident and its impact, and to provide the necessary healthcare for the injured.

Giza governorate is situated on the west bank of the Nile River opposite Cairo.

Many countries offered their sincere condolences to Egypt such as the UAE that expressed its sincere condolences to Egypt for the death of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

In a statement issued by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the Iraqi Foreign Ministry offered their sincere condolences to Egypt. The ministry said Iraq stands by the government and people of Egypt at this difficult time.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry also offered their heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to Egypt. In a statement, Spokesman for the Jordanian Foreign Ministry Haitham Abul Foul asserted that Jordan stands by the government and people of Egypt, expressing sincere condolences to the victims' families and wishing a speedy recovery for the wounded.

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Sunday sent a cable of condolences to Egyptian President Sisi. In his cable, the Kuwaiti Emir expressed his deepest sympathy with the victims' families and wished the injured a quick recovery, KUNA News Agency reported.

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah sent similar cables of condolences to the Egyptian leader, expressing their deepest sympathy with the victims' families.