| According to an Egyptian friend of mine, the residents of the Egyptian Sinai are Bedouins, not proper Egyptians at all, and the area except for the tourist area on the Red Sea is dreadfully neglected. It looks like they’ve been reprioritized by the government. |
Speaking on Amr Adib's Every Day television show on ONTV, El-Ashmawy said the fund, which was established by President Abde-Fattah El-Sisi in 2014 to carry out national projects, aims to provide the town with EGP 400 million in total and will raise the remaining EGP 215 million.
The move is part of the official response to the killing of at least 305 people and the wounding of 128 others during Friday prayers at al-Rawdah Mosque.
The terrorist attack, conducted by up to 30 men in pick-up trucks, was the deadliest such incident in recent Egyptian history.
El-Ashmawy's comments follow the announcement on Sunday that the cabinet has authorized emergency compensation for those directly effected by the attack.
Cabinet front man Ashraf Sultan told the DMC Evening TV show that the governor of North Sinai will provide EGP 200,000 for each person killed and EGP 50,000 for each person injured, pending a decision from El-Sisi on final compensation levels.
Both Sultan and El-Ashmawy revealed plans for developing public services in the local area.
El-Ashmawy outlined a plan involving several elements: raising the efficiency of hospitals; upgrading nine schools; assisting the residents in producing handmade crafts; growing olives and dates; and establishing a market to sell local products.
He said that, in addition to raising the needed EGP 215 million, it will be necessary to source medical equipment and ambulances needed by local health services.
Sultan said the health, education, water and sanitation services would all be improved in the Bir al-Abd area.
Sultan revealed a plan to supply food to those affected for the next three months, along with psychological rehabilitation services for children and women who lost their providers, whether it be a father, son or husband. No women died in the attack, but at least 27 childeren were killed.