Egyptian government plans demolition of Nile's historic houseboats
The Egyptian government is planning to clear the banks of the Nile River of floating residential houseboats to beautify the waterfront and implement new projects.
This was the last goodbye to the Nile River's iconic floating residential houseboats before being removed by the Egyptian government on July 4. The houseboats were moored on the side banks in Al-Kit Kat neighborhood in the Giza governorate.
Eklas Helmy got her last glimpse of the Nile scenery from her balcony in her houseboat, accompanied by her cats, after living there for almost 40 years. She was one of the oldest residents of the houseboats, as she was born there and does not have an alternate home. A monetary donation campaign went up on social media to help her rent a temporary house.
“I would die if I lived far away from the Nile, as if you are pulling a fish out of the water so it will definitely die. I cannot live in a flat between four walls,” Helmy told Al-Monitor.
The last 15 residential houseboats were removed today after 18 were removed on June 28. The first three were removed on June 18 — they were owned by the Muslim Brotherhood, according to a statement by Ayman Nour, head of the Central Administration for Nile Protection.
