Habitat for Humanity Egypt| Contact information | HFH Egypt
99 Omar Ebn el-Khatab Street
3rd Floor, Ste 7
Heliopolis
Cairo
Egypt
Phone: +20 24195161
Fax: +20 224195163
E-mail: no@habitategypt.org
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Egypt -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l 1
Why Habitat is needed in Egypt
With around 73 million inhabitants, Egypt is the most highly populated Arab country, vibrant with life along the mighty Nile River. But in the midst of the hustle and bustle, an estimated 20 million people are living in substandard housing conditions, with no means of improving their situation.
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Garbage collection area in Egypt. Many families live with the garbage they sort and recycle.
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Poverty housing is particularly common in rural areas, where many families live in old mud-brick houses with dirt floors, no doors or windows and inadequate roofs made from thatch, branches or even sugar cane.
These conditions provide little protection from the perils of snakes, insects, intruders, rain or the extreme variations in temperature. The houses are dangerously hot in summer and below freezing temperatures in winter, and people often die from pneumonia. Access to toilets and piped water is limited, creating further health problems. Moreover, large families are often crowded into one- or two-room structures. Some even share their homes with their livestock or poultry.
How Habitat helps
Habitat for Humanity Egypt was founded in 1989 and has constructed or renovated houses that have turned despair into hope for thousands of families in 25 communities who were living in such conditions.
The houses are simple and affordable, yet decent and durable. They are built using appropriate, locally-available building materials that meet specific housing requirements. Houses have cemented or tiled floors, plastered or limestone brick walls, secure wooden roofs and enough rooms to separate parents from children, boys from girls and families from their livestock. The access to clean water and sanitation systems, separation from animals and good ventilation all serve to improve the health of families and their communities.
HFHE partners with the homeowners themselves and with other nongovernmental organizations and community development associations to achieve its goal. By building on their established knowledge and insight to the community and working at the grassroots level, HFHE has experienced tremendous results over recent years and expects the rapid growth to continue.
Highlights
- In Cairo, HFHE works with garbage collectors. Many families not only live with their livestock, but also with the garbage they sort and recycle. HFHE helps these families build a second floor for their own, separate accommodation, improving hygiene and health.
- 150 miles south of Cairo, in the governorate of El-Minya, HFH is boosting the local economy by purchasing construction supplies, including white limestone from the quarry and employing local builders. As a result, many who would have otherwise migrated to seek work elsewhere are able to stay in the community with their families. HFHE continues to expand its work in the governorate.
- In addition to its conventional housing projects, HFHE is offering no-profit loans to replace inadequate roofs with wooden ones. This change alone can create a secure home, protect families from the elements and also allow families the opportunity to build a second floor in the future.
Facts about Egypt
Location: Northern Africa
Population: 74.9 million
Language: Arabic
Climate: Desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Religions: Islam, Christianity
Government: Republic
Economy: Industries include petroleum, cotton, textiles, food processing, tourism and chemicals
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