Sisi orders compensating Nubians affected of High Dam's construction

CAIRO – 21 June 2019: Egypt's President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi ordered addressing the problems of Nubian people who were affected from the construction of Aswan's High Dam since 1902, said Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Omar Marwan.

He said in a press conference at the Council of Ministers' headquarters on Thursday that the relevant committee formed revealed that a total of 11,716 persons were affected by the construction of the dam, or raising the height of the reservoir, or by losing their lands.

The national committee concerned with paying the compensation to the affected Nubians will receive requests from the affected persons starting June 25 for 21 days, Marwan said. Subsequently, the names of those who deserve compensation will be announced within 10 days.

He added that each of the affected persons has the entitlement to apply for cash compensation of LE 25,000 ($1498) per feddan.

The affected people will be compensated by other lands, as some pf them deserve arable lands while others deserve lands for housing units.

Governor of Aswan Ahmed Ibrahim said in a press conference that a major celebration will be organized mid-September to hand over compensation to the affected citizens.

Years ago, Egypt's former President Gamal Abdel Nasser instructed to build Egypt’s biggest national project, the High Dam.

The High Dam was built under the name of Aswan Dam. It was mainly meant to generate power and regulate the seasonal flooding of the Nile. Being one of the former leader’s greatest achievements, for the Egyptians, especially the farmers, the dam was the dream that came true as they have suffered for years from the loss of their crops due to the seasonal unexpected floods.

The establishment of the Dam started with Aswan Dam/reservoir in 1902. The increasing rate of water flow behind the dam flooded 44 Nubian villages and displaced 18000 Nubian families in the aftermath. The area is known now as “old Nubia.”

Nostalgic were the Nubians who deserted their houses and saw them sink beneath the rising water, they had to migrate to Kom Ambo area known as “New Nubia.” The biggest migration took place when the construction of the High Dam occurred in 1963. Nubians witnessed a shift in the way of life around the Nile view to a new desert life in villages built for them in Kom Ambo.

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Additional reporting by Mona Ahmed