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New report from EOHR: ' Qalaat el Kabsh fire: has the problem of Egypt's slum housing been properly examined?'
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4/6/2007
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) tomorrow (5/6/2007) releases its report 'The Qalaat el Kabsh fire: has the problem of Egypt's slum housing been properly examined?' The study presents the results of its two fact-finding missions sent to the Qalaat el Kabsh area on the 24th March 2007 and the 8th May 2007 in order to examine the nature of the crisis and how it should be dealt with. The fact-finding missions spoke to twenty eyewitnesses.
The report is divided into four sections:
- The first section examines the right to housing in light of relevant international human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant of Social, Economic and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
- The second section describes the nature of the severe crisis presently afflicting residents of the Qalaat el Kabsh area and the mismanagement which has allowed the crisis to worsen to this extent. Disastrous consequences could ensue if the situation is not addressed and the Qalaat el Kabsh problem - and the problem of all slum housing - is not solved
- The third section presents eyewitness accounts gathered by EOHR. Collectively these accounts indicate that the situation steadily deteriorated in the Qalaat el Kabsh area and that the authorities failed to step in and solve this problem. No alternative housing has been provided for homes damaged by the fire, and victims were assaulted by the police when these homes were pulled down in a heavy-handed and repressive manner
- The report concludes with a package of recommendations at the head of which is a demand for a solution to the crisis the residents' of Qalaat el Kabsh are suffering, by offering them alternative and appropriate housing units. An effective solution must be put in place to put an end to slum housing, a violation of the right to a decent standard of living allowing individuals and their families to realise their full potential and live in security. This right encompasses food, clothing, housing, education, healthcare and all basic needs. The housing crisis in general must be addressed by settling legal claims presented by individuals, the practice of drawing up housing schemes to prevent the emergence of new slum areas must be ended and consultants experts from engineering and urban planning faculties brought in because of the incompetence of the local authorities responsible for drawing up these plans.
The Real Estate Financing Law must be brought into actual effect and its article 35 implemented. This article describes the creation of a support fund for real estate financing activities in the area of housing sales to those on a low income. Efforts must be made to provide the necessary money to support social housing in order that the support fund can effectively contribute to the provision of housing units to low income families. The strategy for low income housing must be placed in light of the market economy and be based on encouraging people to move to new housing areas on the condition that these areas are equipped with the necessary services. Complaints against illegal measures taken or supported by landlords (whether public or private) in connection with rent charges or maintenance must be addressed.
It is also necessary to take into account the complaints brought against landlords in connection with unhealthy or unsuitable living conditions. The State must apportion a greater proportion of funds to ?? to the provision of suitable housing to a greater number of people who do not live in suitable housing. The necessary measures must be taken to put in place a plan for the economic and the development of society which will bring about fundamental change in order to guarantee that citizens are able to enjoy suitable housing.
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