Khaberni - The Egyptian village of Dalhamu in the Monufia Governorate in the north of the country faces a tragedy after being submerged in Nile waters due to the rising river levels, causing residents to lose their homes and agriculture, and forcing them to escape by boats.
The Egyptian government states that the areas submerged by water are essential parts of the Nile riverbed (the river silt) but the locals had encroached upon them with buildings and agriculture due to sometimes receding waters. However, with the discharge of water amounts this year, these lands were submerged again.
Social media shared video clips show buildings submerged in water over vast areas, with residents moving through the waters in attempts to flee or save whatever possessions they can drag through the waters.
While some residents have left their areas to escape the waters, others are living with the situation for lack of an alternative. One of the residents said: "Even if the waters completely submerge the first floor, we have no other choice and will continue to stay here."
The residents use small fishing boats to navigate around the village that has been completely submerged in water. Despite the repeated occurrence of Nile waters reaching the area during river level rises in the flood season, "this time it's different" according to what one of the village residents said.
The Governor of Monufia, General Ibrahim Abu Limon, visited the impacted village, Dalhamu, during the Nile's flood surge to provide all possible support to the residents, according to a statement from the governorate today.
The statement explained that the governor "offered urgent financial and in-kind support to the affected families, and a medical convoy was provided with several mobile clinics to offer medical services to the families around the clock."
During his meeting with the residents, according to the statement, the governor mentioned "immediate measures to mitigate the effects of the rising flood levels," referring to "an inventory of damaged lands and ongoing coordination with the Ministry of Irrigation to waive their rental value, in addition to the possibility of providing suitable alternative housing for the affected families."
The video is available on our site:
