Posts Tagged ‘gentrification’

China farmer takes a stand

China hotspot kicks out the poor

إزالات جبرية لمحلات تجارية فى أسيوط

The government bulldozers tearing down poor people’s shops in Assuit…

Poor lose homes as Delhi cleans up

Portugal community under threat

Police clash with Nasr City residents مصادمات بين الشرطة والأهالي بمدينة نصر

Nasr City residents destroyed a police station, after Central Security Forces killed a 60-year-old while demolishing houses of poor citizens in Ezbet el-Haggana area. Two officers, 15 soldiers and dozens of citizens were injured in the clashes. The govt U-turned, and canceled its demolishing order.

A neighborhood (that used to be) by the Nile

Fearing the bulldozers

Residents of Egypt’s shantytowns fear a new government urban renewal campaign, Jano Charbel reports for Al-Masry Al-Youm…

For more than 30 years, Atef Owais’ life has revolved around the building at 1 Mataar St, next to the now-disused Imbaba airport. He moved into the building in 1978, and has worked since then in the El Madina el-Munawarra furniture workshop downstairs.
Now Owais and his neighbors in the Ezbet el-Mataar neighborhood are worried. A government campaign to clean up dozens of informal districts around the country has prompted concern they’ll be caught up in a massive urban renewal plan that could threaten their homes.
Residents here have dozens of questions, but no clear answers. They complain they know nothing about the government’s plan, except that it seems to be gaining momentum.
“We have no idea what the government plans to do with the airport. We’ve heard so many conflicting accounts,” Owais said. “If they tear down this building they will render me both homeless and jobless.”
Known as ashwiyaat in Arabic, Egypt’s informal districts have long been a target for government rhetoric about renovation and urban renewal. Now the plans seem to be moving to the front burner.
Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif announced on July 31 a new governmental strategy for the development of shantytowns, slums, and informal housing quarters across the country. Al Masry Al Youm reported that this campaign would be a joint effort between the ministries of housing and finance, the governorates and local councils, along with civil society groups.
According to the Egyptian State Information Service, the government has ambitious urban renovation plans for the area of Northern Giza, including the establishment of four large public gardens along with 60 schools and hospitals. That includes the transformation of more than 200 feddans (over 207 acres) on which Imbaba Airport is built. Approximately 70% of this area is allegedly to be set aside for the creation of a large public park with another 20% designated for the construction of residential buildings, a mall, and commercial offices while the remaining 10% or so are said to be designated for the construction of educational and health-care facilities.
The plan is proceeding alongside the even-more-ambitious Cairo 2050 campaign, a Ministry of Housing initiative that intends to redistribute the city’s population, create 50,000 feddans of green area, move industry outside city limits and add 15 metro lines and two new railway stations to the capital.
In Ezbet el-Mataar and the neighboring Madinet el-Amal district, the plans have triggered fears that their homes would be torn down and the land sold to private investors. They’re awaiting word on their fates and wondering whether there will be compensation offered if necessary—either a payout or suitable replacement housing.
“Local authorities must provide us with maps indicating exactly what they intend on doing with this piece of land,” said Owais, saying he would prefer a replacement apartment to monetary compensation. “We’re left here in the dark; we have no idea as to what’s going to become of us and our children.”
In light of the fears and the looming threats of planned demolitions and relocations, housing rights lawyers and activists have sprung into action. The recently formed Popular Committee for the Defense of the Land of Imbaba Airport, has launched an awareness campaign dubbed, “Prove your (Ownership) Rights Before You Are Evicted.”

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