LE3.5B reimbursed as aids, compensations over counterterrorism in North Sinai

CAIRO – 27 June 2020: North Sinai Governor Mohamed Abdel Fadil submitted to the Cabinet a report Saturday on the measures taken to compensate residents who have been affected by the counterterrorism operations between October 1, 2015 and May 5, 2020.

The total sum that has been reimbursed to those in addition to the injured security personnel and the families of the martyrs has recorded LE3.5 billion.

LE385 million were paid as humanitarian aid while LE12 million others are being processed. Furthermore, LE204.4 were allocated for medical services.

The value of compensations reimbursed to owners who had to evacuate their buildings and farms has reached LE2.7 billion out of LE3.6 billion allocated for that purpose. The contributions of charities and civil society organizations in such compensations are worth LE38.6 million.

The compensations directed at the injured security personnel and the families of the victims are worth LE206.7 million.

Terrorism started to rise in North Sinai during the January 25th Revolution in 2011 when a gas pipeline was bombed. Under late President Mohamed Morsi, 16 soldiers were killed in a shooting in 2012. The incident was dubbed Rafah Massacre 1. Seven others were abducted in 2013 but security forces managed to free them.

Terror attacks intensified after the ouster of Morsi over mass protests on July 3, 2013. It is noted that Morsi was member of the Supreme Guide Bureau of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is outlawed in Egypt and designated a terrorist organization.

The attacks targeted mainly churches, buildings of security directorates, security checkpoints, ambushes, and patrols causing hundreds of deaths, injuries, and material losses across the country. At present, terrorism is predominantly restricted to North Sinai.