Egypt - Our communities

Ezbet Khairallah

Ezbet Khairallah extends over an area of two square kilometers and is home to an estimated 700,000 habitants, making it one of the largest and most densely populated informal communities in Egypt. The influx from various rural areas on the outskirts of Cairo in search of job opportunities began in the 1970s. People started building their own wood and tin houses on the rocky hill that is today known as Ezbah. Squatters on state-owned land, residents of the Ezbah, have been living under the constant threat of having their homes demolished. The “illegal” status of Ezbah has also deprived it of basic public utilities, like water, electricity and a sewage system. The residents have, therefore, organized themselves to distribute water and electricity cooperatively around the area.