Egypt's loss due to Alamin minefields estimated at LE 300 billion
Egypt, Economics, 10/25/2001

Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation estimated Egypt's loss resulting, from abandoning the arable areas of Almain at Western desert planted with mines, at about LE 300 billion. This pun, according to the Ministry, and which equals threefold the development aid received by Egypt over the past 50 years.

The Ministry's first undersecretary Abd Allah marzban uncovered in front of defense, national security and Arab affairs committee at Shura Council on Monday that alliance countries had planted 22 million mines in western desert during the Second World War, in about 287000 acres that could have been a population attractive area.

He pointed out that the number of Egyptian victims of land mines is estimated at about 1000 killed and 7000 wounded. Marzban added that Egypt has set up a national committee for removing mines under the Minister of Planning.

The committee will include concerned governorates and ministries and has set up a program for removing mines at a reasonable cost.

Marzban highlighted UN support for the process of removing mines and acknowledged the dangers caused by them.

He added that a fund was set in cooperation with UN to collect the contributions of donating countries to override the crisis.

Furthermore, he underlined Italy's approval on transferring Egypt's due debts in five years to the purposes of developing this area.

He added that Germany agreed on participating financially in removing mines.

Previous Stories:
  Four Arab countries to conclude free trade agreement   (10/24/2001)
  Plan to turn North Coast area to tourist attraction   (9/3/2001)
  Egypt's foreign debts decrease by $100 million a year   (6/11/2001)
  UN report calls for helping landmine victims in Egypt   (5/7/2001)
  World War II mines still hinder development in Egypt's Northern Coast   (5/7/2001)
  Egypt plans to clear mines, develop northwest coast   (5/7/2001)

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