Disaster in Cairo

[Monica]

Rescue Slow as Part of Cliff Flattens Cairo District
Rock slide in Cairo shantytown kills 24

It is stories like these that make me not want to travel to Egypt anymore. Could the government there make it any more clear that they do not care at all about the people they should be serving? This is a more extreme version of a few things I have seen there with my own eyes that make me question my traveling there with a clear conscience. I think of myself as an ethical traveler, I try to support local businesses (including independent hotels), but this is just so, so bleak. To be a tourist, and therefore supporting the status quo and power structure, while this is occurring, seems very cold.

Here is to the Egyptian people.
And ramadan mubarak to anyone observing.

[jasani]

Governments never care about the poor. This is sad.

[Taj]

Oh, my god. Dear god, those poor people!

I understand your feelings, Monica, but if it helps, remember that tourism does benefit local, independent businesses--guides, taxi drivers, hotel staff, shopkeepers, etc. Those folks would be much worse off if it wasn't for tourism dollars (and pounds, and francs, and yuan).

[Michelle75]

I wish they did emergency response training. It sounds like Egypt really needs someone to come in and train them. Their response to every disaster so far has only been crowd control police. Six hours for heavy machinery to show up after a disaster like this is JUST ridiculous.

I hope these people will find comfort somewhere.

[Lesgemini_Zafirah]

My heart goes out to these people!

[Amber_moon]

Sounds familiar... *cough* FEMA *cough*

[lizajuk]

So we have a government anywhere in the world that cares about its' poor?
Where ...do tell?
On a much more minor scale we have folk here in the Uk still suffering from last years flooding, living in caravans and others still dealing with these frequent floods caused by bad planning and lack of investment not just mother nature.
You help by supporting their economy as tourism is so important and ermergency aid organisations.
Thanks for highlighting this.

[tink]

Never thought anything this sad could occur in Cairo.

[Monica]

Well...things like building codes and street lights are implemented in many places, for example. The craziness of crossing the street in Cairo can be quaint and exhilarating for an outsider, but is also symbolic of government apathy.

I returned last night from a very inspiring Tito show to read this news. Made me feel very conflicted. I have struggled with where to spend tourist dollars before--even if I like to think of myself as more of a traveler, we are still tourists in most ways--and have struggled with going to Egypt for other reasons (most importantly persecution of gay people, including two friends of mine who live here now and cannot return home even to visit family and friends).

I agree no place is perfect, and yes I know we have huge problems here. We are paying billions for a war and cannot rebuild New Orleans. And I do know that tourist dollars help people immensely. But this is a struggle for me. Can I go to a dance show while people are being buried alive because the dictatorship can't be bothered to deal with the huge numbers of people who migrate to the capital city?

Heaviness on a Sunday morning, as in fact I am planning a study trip back late next year. Now I am wondering if I can coordinate it with some other purpose.

[rakgirl]

I've heard about aid societies thru churches where you can visit a poor village and bring presents while in Egypt. A lady who went with us last year had been sponsoring a family and went to visit them with presents for the little girl who's education she'd been paying for. She found that the family didn't have running water and gave them the $300 to install it. I felt so bad because i was just considering buying a $300 bracelet that very day. Sadly I didn't buy the bracely nor pay for anyone's plumbing. Inaction is not the answer.

[zumarrad]

Governments never care about the poor.

Mine does! Kind of.

But this is indeed horrible and food for thought. Personally I feel I owe Egypt something and I like to spend there when I can. Egypt needs to decide for Egypt, but looking after poor people is IMO a government's job, even in a country where looking after the poor is a religious obligation for most.

[kamilia]

I talked to two different people in different neighborhoods in Cairo a few hours after it happened; but I wouldn't have found out about it if I hadn't checked out The Times! No one knew about it for a while, maybe because of the lack of a response?

The problem with many police officers there is the way they got into the force: because of a family member or a bribe. These individuals don't join because they want to be police officers; they seem to be motivated by pay and job security, in addition to the universally appealing power trip. There is no motivation for these types to help out in a crisis. Police forces aren't perfect anywhere, and it's hard to get a good job in Egypt, but the Egyptian force's inefficacy was incredible last weekend.

There are so many neighborhoods in need of basic repair, but then I hear on BBC this week that there is a special initiative to refurbish the classic European buildings in Cairo. I guess they'll eventually get to low-income neighborhoods...

I agree that there is a lot a traveler can contribute while in Egypt; whether through organized charitable networks or through personal action.

[ejaghana]

I'm so sad to hear this. Sending good vibes to Egypt now!

I do agree with what's being said here. Traveler's dollars (and pounds francs, etc.) do make a huge difference. I like to cosider myself a traveler as well.