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Hundreds left homeless as Egyptian authorities demolish random constructions

As the Egyptian authorities embark on removing dozens of residential buildings in the historic Sayeda Aisha area as part of a development plan, lawyers are working to provide legal support to residents and owners of the removed properties.
Egyptian women sit in the street with their furniture after they were evacuated from their home a few days ago on July 14, 2010, in the al-Darb el-Ahmar area in the historic Islamic Cairo. Several hundred meters (yards) away an old building collapsed overnight killing seven people sleeping inside. AFP PHOTO/KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

CAIRO — Amid tight security measures to prevent the outbreak of protests, the Egyptian authorities continue the campaign to remove dozens of residential buildings in the historic Islamic district of Sayeda Aisha in the capital Cairo, which led to the displacement of hundreds of families despite their possession of proof that their houses are legally built.

Mohammed Omran, from the Sayeda Aisha area, woke up Jan. 16 to the sound of tractors demolishing dozens of houses surrounding the historic Sayeda Aisha Mosque on the grounds that these buildings were randomly built and had no official permits.

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