Khaberni - The recent story of former Egyptian nuclear energy engineer Laila Ibrahim Hassan caused a wide wave of interaction on social media platforms, after video clips of her were shared saying she had been forced to live on the streets for about seven months following a dispute with the owner of the apartment she was residing in at Kafr Tahormos area in Giza Governorate.
Details of the story
According to her account to local media, she worked at the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority before she was pensioned off, and about 8 years ago, she rented an apartment under a new rent system for 1200 Egyptian pounds (about $25) per month, with a periodic increase of 10 percent every two years, until the rent reached about 3000 Egyptian pounds (about $62), which equals her monthly pension, as she said.
She explained that she was surprised a few months ago by the property owner's demand to either raise the rent again or vacate the apartment. She confirmed that she refused to leave as she could not afford the cost of alternative accommodation. She says that the owner - via the building's caretaker - changed the locks of the apartment, which forced her to live on the street.
Government intervention
As public interaction escalated, the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity announced that the central rapid response team mobilized on the field to examine her case and provide appropriate support, indicating that handling humanitarian cases is done according to mechanisms aimed at providing care and suitable housing.
Social and economic dimensions
The issue has brought to the forefront discussions about the conditions of the elderly in Egypt, especially those who live alone or rely on limited pensions in the face of rising living costs and rents.
The story also raises questions about the role of the state in protecting the rights of vulnerable tenants and the necessity to develop housing and social programs that ensure a decent standard of living for the elderly, especially those without a family support network. The presence of an educated and specialized engineer in a sensitive field like nuclear energy on the street indicates a flaw in the social protection system.
