Egypt: Villagers protest due to lack of water

Dozens of residents of Siliein village in Sinoris, Fayoum blocked a highway that links Fayoum and Lake Qarun by setting fire to tires and branches.

The roadblock followed repeated power outages and severe shortages in drinking water that have plagued residents for the past ten days.

Security forces were dispatched immediately under the supervision of the deputy director of security, General Mohamed Wael, and persuaded residents to end the roadblock and clear the highway. Necessary repairs were then made to correct the power and water problems.

Mostafa Hassan, one of the villagers, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that residents had complained about the repeated power outages to officials.

The response they received, according to Hassan, was: “Whoever knows how to do something should go ahead and do it.” The officials then brushed them off, Hassan said.

“The food in our refrigerators has gone bad. We can’t put up with all these losses, especially now that we are in the month of Ramadan. We need power and water,” said Faiza Ibrahim, another resident.