Amidst the curfew demands in Egypt ... what about millions of poor people?

Mohamed Abdullah - Cairo

With the increasing concern of Egyptians about the increasing spread of the Corona virus, there has been much talk about the necessity of imposing a curfew in the country, especially with some people not adhering to the instructions to stay at home, and reduce the chances of mixing with others.

An informed media source told Al-Jazeera Net that "there is a conversation going on in the corridors of power regarding the possibility of imposing a curfew, taking into account the pros and cons of the decision."

Several providers of "Tok Show" programs on the Egyptian channels warned that what they described as the non-compliance of Egyptians with the instructions of the Ministry of Health, and their continuation in large gatherings, would push the authority to the curfew decision.

The pioneers of the communication sites were divided between supporters and opponents of the curfew, where supporters see that this would reduce the spread of the virus and control it, in the absence of a viable drug, while opponents assert that millions of Egyptians are poor and simple - especially those who work on a daily basis and do not enjoy With fixed monthly salaries - they will be severely affected.

With increasing speculation, demands and information circulating about the army’s deployment to implement the curfew decision, the Egyptian military spokesman denied the validity of this, stressing that the deployed army forces are involved in clearing government buildings and vital facilities.

Partial ban

In a similar to the partial ban, the Egyptian authorities took several measures to prevent gatherings and reduce the mixing of Egyptians, which they started a week ago to stop schools and universities, and the Ministry of Awqaf announced today, Saturday, the closure of mosques two weeks, which was announced by the Egyptian churches as well.

Also today, the Ministry of Antiquities announced the closure of museums and archaeological sites for the same period, while the Supreme Council of Universities announced the postponement of the second semester exams until the end of May.

Two days ago, Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly announced the closure of restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, casinos, cabarets, nightclubs and commercial centers from seven in the evening until six in the morning, until the end of this March, but he excluded bakeries, grocery stores and pharmacies, whether located in commercial centers or outside.

To address fears of the impact of these steps on the Egyptian economy, the government announced a package of measures to support investors, factory owners, companies, and some middle classes dealing with banks, such as providing a billion pounds for exporters to pay part of their dues, and delaying the payment of the real estate tax due on factories and tourist facilities for a period of three months.

It also decided to postpone loan installments due on customers - individuals and institutions - to banks (including loans for consumer purposes and real estate loans for personal housing) for a period of six months, without any delay delay, according to the initiative of the Central Bank.

What about the poor?

According to the latest report of the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics in Egypt, poverty rates in the country rose to 32.5%, which means that there are more than 32 million poor people who face the burdens of life day by day, as millions of Egyptians depend on daily informal work.

According to the data of the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, there are 11.85 million workers (irregular employment) out of 25.7 million workers, and they do not enjoy health insurance or social pension, and regular wages.

These millions of poor people have caused many activists to fear the impact of the curfew on them and exacerbate their daily suffering, and have called on the government to study their support steps before making the difficult decision, but others have called for solidarity campaigns to help poor families affected by the economic impacts of the Corona virus, as many celebrities have announced Football players take care of a number of poor families who depend on daily income.

Former governor of the lake, Osama Suleiman, affirmed that one of the solutions before the Egyptian government in the event of resorting to imposing a curfew is to "cut a portion of the budget and direct it to the poor, to achieve the necessary self-sufficiency of the necessary needs, and to stop spending on some projects such as the administrative capital, and arms deals."

Speaking to Al-Jazeera Net, Suleiman indicated that the government is unable to protect the poor and daily workers in the event of a curfew, whether in whole or in part, adding, "They will be the first to starve, and the last to be treated, even if a vaccine for this virus is reached."

He explained that there is no alternative to taking adequate measures to provide necessities, and the civil society joining forces with the poor, expressing its fears of "obfuscation, discretion and providing misleading data on the reality of the crisis."

Economic consequences

For his part, the adviser to former Minister of Supply, Ismail Turki, ruled out "the Egyptian government imposing a curfew like some of the world’s countries, for fear of the economic consequences of the decision."

In his talk to Al-Jazeera Net, Turki explained that the Egyptian government will isolate some cities and governorates when the virus outbreaks in them, such as what happened in the Belqas region in Dakahlia governorate, and the Red Sea governorate, and will give powers to the governors to take what they deem appropriate, so as not to assume their responsibilities.

Turki denounced the way to deal with the crisis, saying, "The government treats the problem in the media, not the health, and it is the government's approach in all crises. It will not announce the ban unless there is a disaster - God forbid - it cannot control it."