'A Safe Shore' initiative to be launched May 27 to serve 42K Egyptian fishermen

CAIRO – 26 May 2021: The Ministry of Social Solidarity will launch Thursday in collaboration with the General Authority for Fish Resources Development (GAFRD) the presidential initiative dubbed "A Safe Shore" targeted at small fishermen and funded by Long Live Egypt Fund.

In the inauguration ceremony, the first batch of fishing equipment and diving suits will be handed to fishermen. Later, soft loans will be made available to them and their wives so they would be able to generate income off season. The initiative also ensures enrolling the fishermen and their families in the Universal Health Insurance Programme being introduced in governorates over phases so as each phase consists of a number of the 27 governorates.

"A Safe Shore" encompasses four phases to serve 42,000 fishermen. The first will be delivered to 15,000 fishermen working in Beheira's Lake Rayan and Lake Idku, Alexandria's Lake Maryout, and Lake Manzala lying in four governorates that are Port Said, Damietta, Sharqia, and Daqahliya.  

The second phase consists of Kafr El Sheikh's Lake Borolos, Ismailiyah's Bitter Lakes and Lake Temsah. The third phase includes the lakes constituting the Nile River's estuaries, while the fourth encompasses Lake Nasser in Aswan, and Lake Bardawil in North Sinai.  

Minister Nevine al-Qabaj stated that President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi had instructed paying fishermen a stipend, and rehabilitating their boats, if needed.