Country Information
Founded: Ancient Kingdom – 3200BCE
Independence (from British control): 1922
Land Area: 1,001,450 Square Kilometers (slightly larger than New Mexico)
Climate: Desert with hot, dry summers and moderate winters
Agricultural Land Usability: 3%
Natural Hazards: drought, flash floods, earthquakes, landslides, hot driving windstorms (khamsin) in springtime, dust and sandstorms
Environmental issues: Already limited agricultural land is being lost due to urbanization, water pollution and raw sewage causes there to be very limited fresh water aside from the Nile and rapid population grown is straining the Nile and other natural resources.
The People
Population: 78,887,007
Infant Mortality Rate: 23 deaths / 1000 births
Life Expectancy: 72 years
Major Diseases: no high specific risk nationwide; though waterborne illnesses and bacterial diarrhea are common along the Nile valley.
Religions: 90% Muslim, 9% Coptic Christian, 1% other Christian
Literacy Rate: 58%
Unemployment rate: 10%
Population below the UN-established Poverty Line: 20%
Special Conditions
Refugees from Palestine are largely not given asylum and therefore lack UNRWA assistance. These Palestinian refugees number approximately 70,000. There are also 15,000 Sudanese refugees due to the conflict at the 22nd Parallel at the Hala’ib Triangle area.
The 20% of impoverished Egyptians live in slum conditions and there are diverse health concerns and consistently dropping educational standards among these communities.
Identifying the Need
Medical care is a serious and growing concern for impoverished sections of Egypt. Even in Cairo there are levels of unnecessary suffering among the poor.
Education is needed to raise the literacy rate, specifically among women.
How The Zakat Foundation Has Responded
Ramadan Programs
Beginning in 2006, our Ramadan programs were extended to Egypt. Through our food package distributions and community iftars, people who have lived in the slums of Cairo are able to enjoy the holy month with a greater degree.
Udhiya / Qurbani Distribution
For the Eid al-Adha in December of 2006, we slaughtered and distributed many shares of meat to the poor and needy. This project was implemented at the direct request of our donors and is just one more example of how The Zakat Foundation of America is your organization.
