Haya Karima updates: Railway expansions, infrastructure development in Egypt’s governorates

CAIRO – 7 April 2021: Haya Karima [Decent life] Presidential initiative continues to develop, ease and change people’s life in Egypt’s countryside and villages with offering services, food and even implementing and developing infrastructures projects.

According to the latest statements on the initiative’s achievements and with the approach of the holey month of Ramadan, ‘The Charity Trian’ convoy, which is part of Haya Karima visited Sohag Governorate in Upper Egypt, bringing food and medical supplies to the towns’ residents.

The train convoy, which consisted of twenty cars loaded with food and medical supplies provided the residents with all what they needed. Medical dates for necessary operations and checkups were set to many people by the convoy’s doctors.

The citizens' reactions were largely positive as a result of the medical care and food they received from the convoy.

The successful initiative is being considered for implementation in other 18 governorates around the country including Asyut, Minya, Bani Sweif and Aswan.

In Qalyubia, number of national projects including railway expansions were implemented during the past months.

Gharbia, Monufia and Sharkia governorate witnessed a lot of progress in building and developing several sanitation projects.

In 2019, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al Sisi launched Haya Karema [Decent Life] initiative with the aim of developing the most-needy countryside villages within a time frame of three following years.

This project unified the efforts of both government and civil society to raise the life standard of these villages along with improving their living conditions.

This initiative includes developing the lives of nearly 175 towns and 4209 villages. A total budget of LE 515 billion were allocated for the project.

-The first phase-

The first phase of the initiative began in July 2019 with developing 375 villages considered to be among the poorest in 14 different governorates allover the country. The services provided to the villages were in the sectors of health, education, drinking water, electricity and gas, roads and transportation along with sports and environmental services.

Up to 4.46 million people benefited of Hayaa Karema in its first phase with total projects and services of a LE 13.5 billion coast.

Up to 600 national projects were implemented in this phase, as another 1580 are expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

23 NGO participated in developing the life standards of several families spotted living in sever poor conditions under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Solidarity. Up to 52,000 social interventions and aids were needed as part of the initiative’s developing strategy.

-The second phase-

On December 28, 2020, Sisi announced launching the second phase of Hayaa Karema to include another 1376 villages distributed in different 20 governorate with a total of LE 150 billion investments and 18 million beneficiaries.

Up to 20 different authority and Ministry in Egypt are participating in the national initiative with efforts and data. Also, nearly 23 NGO and hundreds of volunteers are taking part significantly in all of the projects and stages of the initiative.

Hayaa Karema is a national project that aims to eliminate poverty and help creating a stable, decent, and healthy life for all Egyptians. It sets a plan of providing infrastructure networks in villages, improve all services, implement projects, and help the most vulnerable communities among citizens.

Funding medium small and micro enterprises along with providing educational, cultural services are included in the initiative as part of the mega national initiative.

Last February, The United Nations praised Egypt’s “Decent Life” initiative for contributing in mitigating the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic through improving the standards of living conditions of the most needy groups.

In a report, the UN said the initiative has also provided job opportunities through supporting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

It added the goals of the initiative are to be achieved through providing decent housing, water and sanitation for deprived families, and medical and educational services, establishing micro-projects for those most in need and providing in-kind support periodically to most in need families.