New Pressures on Cities and Regions London – England , November 2016
Waves of Displacement in Egypt Impacts of the internal and external displacement waves on the Egyptian Cities
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yehya Serag Ain Shams University - Cairo
The Aim of the Research Displacement waves have increased recently in different locations of the world. Egypt witnessed different external and internal displacement waves over the last 100 year. This research aims to track down these waves and investigate their spatial and other impacts on the host cities.
Research Constraints Some migration waves took place over 70 to 100 years ago , and in some cases enough documentation was not found. Moreover, many of those who witnessed the displacement processes had passed away, hence was a bit difficult to find first account information
Research methods Mainly the research was conducted through holding interviews with related people , literature review as well as using the documentation material ..
In and to Egypt
Waves of Internal and External Displacement
Time line
Numbers of Internal and External Displaced People in Egypt over the last 100 years Former
Yugoslavia In 1944: 40,000
Armenia
1915 approx:
5000
Greece
Syria 2012/16:
Iraq
115000 650000
2007: 120,000 2015: 30,000 Suez Canal cities 1967-1974:
600000ďƒ¨ 1 million
Libya 2011 : 93000
Egypt (IDP)
Palestine 1948: 13000 1956: 142000 1967: 6000
Nubia
1965: 55000 (approx.)
The numbers mentioned here reflect mostly the official numbers of registered refugees, however, in many cases, these numbers would increase if the unregistered ones are added. Many of the Syrian, Libyan and Iraqi nationals in Egypt who fled the conflict zones, would not register as many of them are wealthy enough not to ask for any financial assistance, hence, both refugees and migrants would compose the total number internally displaced people.
Armenian Refugees in Egypt - 1915
Refugee Camp in Port Fouad - Egypt
Armenian Refugees in Egypt - 1915 Owing to the fact that the Armenians and Egyptians came under the same rulers throughout different points of History , there was no political problem for settling down before 1915. At a certain point of history, the Prime Minister of Egypt was Armenian. Cause: During the events of World War One, the Armenian Genocide took place in April 1915, causing thousands of Armenians to fled their country .
Armenian refugee camp in Port Fouad In 1915 alone, already 4200 refugees were rescued by the French and British navy and were granted asylum in Egypt after being declined elsewhere.
The refugees were hosted in a camp in Port Fouad by the Suez Canal, afterwards they either settled in Egypt (Cairo, Alexandria, & Upper Egypt) Others moved to other countries.
Physical Impacts Since the Armenians were already there in Egypt, the integration of the Armenian refugees went easily. Already several schools were there. The Armenian cathedral, more schools and social clubs were built by the Armenians. Other Impacts The Armenian population increased in Egypt, until the 1950s, when they started to migrate. Many Armenians played influential roles in art, cinema and journalism. Under 12000 Armenians currently live in Egypt.
Significant impact on the Egyptian cities was not visible, except for the few structures they built
Greek
& Yugoslav Refugees in Egypt – 1941-1945
CAIRO — Civilian refugees from Greece have begun to arrive in Egypt. Not many are here as yet but thousands are expected. Their departure from Greece was as orderly as could have been expected in the circumstances. It is a movement of weary-eyed refugees who abandoned their homes and most of their old world goods to flee before the Germans. They have come by one means or another from Rumania, Bulgaria and Greece. Those in charge of receiving them in Egypt and moving them out of this country to safer havens say that they are ‘‘expecting the worst.’’ — New York Herald Tribune, April 27, 1941
Greek & Yugoslav Refugees in Egypt – 1941-1945 In this case as well, there had been a significant Greek Community living in Egypt before the start of WW II Cause: During the events of World War Two, and the conquest of Europe, an influx of refugees from Europe to the Middle East took place.
Middle East Relief and Refugee Administration (MERRA) operated the camps.
Greek King in Alexandria
Greeks in Moses wells refugee camp in Sinai
Greeks and Yugoslav refugees fled or deported to Egypt. In 1944 an estimation of 40000 refugees was recorded in Egypt. Other refugee camps were set in other locations in the Middle East, including Syria and Palestine. The capacities of the camp were overwhelmed by 1800 refugees per week, Which led to the setting of several camps.
Locations of the Camps (BBC)
Impacts Similar to the Armenian case, the Greeks had a long presence in Egypt before the war. The Greek refugees who arrived in the 1940s either stayed in the camps till the end of the war and returned home, or some of them settled in Egypt, before their numbers decreased by the second half of the 1950s. Those who settled worked in different sectors mostly in Alexandria and Cairo Already, there had been several Greek buildings and facilities mainly in Alexandria, before the war. In Alexandria , in the 1940s the Greek community was 150000 , unfortunately following a reverse migration process in the decades to follow , the Greek population in Alexandria is now below 800.
The
Palestinian refugees – 1948,1956,1967
The
Nubian resettlement (IDP) – 1964
The
Nubian resettlement (IDP) – 1964
More than 55000 Nubians were internally displaced. Cause: As a result of the construction of the High Dam in Aswan at the South of Egypt, 42 Nubian villages were submerged by the 350 Km2 lake that was formed as a result of the Dam. The Nubians went through forced displacement process.
Original Nubian villages – Ziegler 1964
The resettlement villages
Physical Impacts The Nubian resettlement led to the relocation of an entire region. The inhabitants of the 42 settlements were housed in newly planned settlements in Komombo . However in terms of housing typologies, the new houses came as a disappointment to the Nubian migrants. Other Impacts A stark change in their habitat from a Nile attached life to a more like desert life, affected their social and economic life. Changes in activities, increase in unemployment rates, as well as the gradual loss of language and culture are tangible.
Plan for a resettlement village The High Dam
After more than 50 years of the displacement process, the Nubian resettlement is still a highly controversial issue. With Nubians demanding the right to go back closer to their original habitat.
Port Said Fleeing (IDP) – Suez Crises- 1956
Fleeing
Port Said (IDP) – Suez Crises- 1956
Cause: During the Suez war in 1956, Port Said was one of the main battlegrounds that got severely damaged during the war. Although there was no official decision for eviction, many families escaped to other locations in Egypt, mainly the Delta.
Physical and Other Impacts - Many districts of Port Said were destroyed - Many families fled the fighting by crossing Manzala lake and reaching for the cities of the Delta. - Mostly were housed in schools at that period with some local families hosting the fleeing families. - The temporary resettlement lasted only for few months starting from November 1956 till the first quarter of 1957. - Reconstruction interventions were made together with a new planning for the city.
Plan for a resettlement village
New Plan for Port Said 1957
The passage of the fleeing population in 1956
Construction of new districts in the city – 1957 onwards
Suez Canal Cities’ Eviction
(IDP) – 1967-1974
Suez Canal Cities’ Eviction
(IDP) – 1967-1974
Between 600000 and 1 million inhabitants had been evicted from the Suez Canal Cities between 1967-1974 Cause: As a result of the Six Days war in June 1967, Israel occupied the Sinai peninsula and reached the East bank of the Suez Canal. This made the Canal cities (Ismailia, Port Said and Suez) on the frontline of confrontation, with many civilian casualties. In August 1967, a governmental decision was made taken to evict their residents.
Plan for a resettlement village The Suez canal cities were unsafe zones during the conflict
Physical and Other Impacts - The Suez Canal cities were deserted (except for war effort) for six years with no maintenance or sanitation, leading to excessive damage to their infrastructure and buildings. As well as the outbreak of rats. - The evicted families were housed in schools - Families had to rent living space and in some cases live in summer huts in some resort cities (Ras El Bar) - Public sector employees were housed by the government in some vacant housing projects. - Pressure on the service facilities (schools) in host cities.
Excessive destruction in Suez, 1973
Osman buildings in Nasr city – Cairo, were allocated to the displaced people, 1967
Suez Canal Cities (IDP) : the Return – 1974 onwards
Cause: After the seize fire in 1974 following the October war (Yom Kippur) , President Sadat authorized the start of the return of the displaced population of the Suez Canal cities. It took several years for the reconstruction process.
Physical Impacts - Post war reconstruction efforts were made to restore the damaged buildings by the help of the government. - Sadat administration introduced the New Map Policy for the urban development of Egypt. - New Districts were planned and reconstructed in the canal cities. Other Impacts - Those whose homes were destroyed lived in bunkers until their homes were built. - Many who didn’t own property in these cities never returned - Some of the evicted families never returned back. Instead they settled in the host cities and got jobs there. - An undoable change in the demographic structure in the evicted and host cities was done.
Plan for a resettlement village The New Map policy – October 1974 (Attia, 1999)
Sheikh Zayed district, built in the late 1970s
Restoration of the damaged buildings after the war, 1974
Fleeing
Kuwait – 1990
Cause: After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, many Kuwaitis and other nationalities fled the country in convoys. They crossed to Saudi Arabia and other countries including Egypt. However, this displacement case did not last for long as Kuwait was liberated in February 1991. A direct physical impact was not felt, except for the educational system, as some schools had to work double shifts to accommodate the displaced population.
Fleeing
Iraq:
2003-2005
Cause: The US led invasion of Iraq and the spread of sectarian valance afterwards. Roughly 120000 to 130000 Iraqis attempted to resettle in Egypt. Such a resettlement was mostly made by affluent Iraqis caused an increase in real state prices , specially in the new districts and cities of Greater Cairo Region. Some food businesses were started by the Iraqi community. A reverse wave of moving back to Iraq, started in 2008, however the impact done on real-estate sector was irreversible.
Syrian migrants and refugees: 2012ďƒ¨ Official numbers of Syrian refugees in Egypt count for about 115 to 120 thousands. However, the unofficial numbers vary and can reach up to 650000. Cause: The Arab Spring revolution in Syria and the consequent Civil war, let to the fleeing of millions of people. Syrians in Egypt either migrated officially with their own resources, or came as refugees
Plan for a resettlement village
Main concentration locations of the Syrian community Charity shelter for refugees near 6th of October city
Physical and Other Impacts Well off Syrians are either concentrated in New Cairo or 6th of October cities in GCR. Although this division might be because of economic or political reasons among them. - They mostly settled in Cairo and Alexandria , but in other cities in Egypt as well. - New small businesses by the Syrians were opened, and in some locations changing the whole economic settings - Investment are made in the textile industries by the Syrians in some of the industrial locations in Egypt. - The Syrian population is quiet visible and accepted in Egypt, with many students in the Egyptian universities and schools. - Syrian refugees received help from charity organizations in Egypt and were settled in some emergency housing locations.
Conclusion Matrix Impacts on Destination cities
Impacts on Origin cities
Displacement
Type
Cause
Official response
Armenian refugees (1915)
External Displacement
Armenian Genocide
Egyptian government and British officials (?) set camps in Port Said
Facilities were constructed, churches, clubs and schools. Engaged in the Egyptian society
-------
Greek & Yugoslav refugees (1940s)
External Displacement
World War Two
MERRA and the British officials, made 4 refugee camps in Egypt
Minor Physical impacts. Engaged in the Egyptian society
Postwar reconstruction
Palestinian refugees (1948-1967)
External Displacement
Arab- Israeli Wars
Egyptian government’s response varied: providing camps, passive response & housing
Some Housing projects were allocated. Access to education & services.
------(Israeli Occupation)
Port Said migrants (1956)
Internal Displacement
Suez War
Official provision of temporary shelter in schools, followed by reconstruction intervention.
Schools closed and pressure on public facilities
Postwar reconstruction (New city Planning)
Nubian resettlement (1964)
Internal Displacement
Construction of the High Dam
Resettlement of 44 villages by the government
New resettlement communities formed
Flooded under the High Dam Lake
Conflict in the Middle East (19671974)
Internal Displacement
Six days war and the war of iteration
Varied: Providing temporary shelter , providing housing, salaries , and reconstruction interventions.
Providing housing Pressure on facilities Demographic & social changes
Reconstruction Different planning patterns New Map of Egypt
Kuwaiti refugees (1990)
External Displacement
Iraqi Occupation of Kuwait
Giving access to the service sector , mainly education
--------
-------
Iraqi migrants (2003-2007)
External Displacement
Second Gulf war & US led invasion of Iraq
Unclear, but access to business and housing market
Increase in real-estate prices Concentration in East & West new districts in Greater Cairo
-------
Syrian migrants and refugees (2012ďƒ¨)
External Displacement
Arab Spring and civil war
Unclear, but access to business and housing market
New commercial activities New Industrial facilities Increase in Rentals in New districts
Conflict is still ongoing
Special Thanks -
Mr. Gamil Youssef (Ismailia – Suez Canal)
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Prof. Mohamed Serag (Egypt)
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Mrs. Amina Awad (Port Said- Suez Canal)
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Prof. Shafak El Wakil (Egypt)
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Miss Nour (Syria)
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Prof. Mohamed El Adly (Egypt)
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Miss Suzan (Syria)
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Assoc. Prof. Ahmed Sami (Egypt)
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Miss Dima (Syria)
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Gen. AbdulRahman Ali (Egypt)
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Miss. Nanar Kalinian (Armenian)