Jazirat Warraq.. Intensifying “Land Conflict” Between Government and Residents
In light of the escalating situation on Jazirat Warraq in Giza Governorate, marked by a peaceful protest organized by the island’s residents on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, against a government order to vacate homes and land by September, coinciding with the anniversary of the murder of Sayed Hassan El-Gezeawy and the injury of others, during clashes with security forces in 2017, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights reiterates Jazirat Warraq issue as a model for the property conflict between the government and citizens.
In this context, the Center reissues a previous report prepared and edited by human rights lawyer Khaled Ali, titled “Land Conflict: Jazirat Warraq as a Model,” which documents and monitors the ongoing conflict over the Nile island’s area, highlighting the challenges and struggles faced by the island’s residents due to the Egyptian government’s attempts to redesign and develop the region.
The report discusses the government’s plans: “Redeveloping the Island and Transforming it into an Investment Zone” and the measures taken by the government, such as evacuation and resettlement orders. It also addresses the objections of the local residents to the government’s plans and the protests and confrontations between the residents and security forces.
Additionally, the report points to the impact of the development plans on the daily lives of the residents, including the loss of homes, agricultural lands, and livelihoods, outlining the legal status of land ownership on the island and the legal disputes between the residents and the government.
With the crisis persisting without any foreseeable solutions, the Center reiterates its recommendations included in the report, which aim to balance the government’s development objectives with the rights of the local residents.
The Center’s recommendations include: the necessity of protecting the rights of local residents on the island, adopting developmental policies that preserve the social and environmental character of the island, developing infrastructure and public services that serve the island’s residents and improve their living standards, providing fair and satisfactory compensation for residents willing to voluntarily evacuate, involving local residents in the decision-making process concerning the island’s future, organizing dialogue sessions between the government and residents to reach acceptable solutions, ensuring transparency in all government actions related to the island, and establishing accountability mechanisms that allow residents to monitor and review the implementation of government plans.
To review the full report, click here:
