Victims of the torrential flooding that inundated the city of Arish two weeks ago in the northern Sinai Peninsula were forced by police to evacuate their makeshift tents during a visit Sunday by First Lady Suzanne Mubarak.
The media, meanwhile, was barred from covering the visit, while the road from the airport to municipality headquarters–where Mrs. Mubarak met with the governor of North Sinai–was closed completely.
"They left us here with no food or water," said Raqia, who lost her home to the recent floods. "And now they want to move us out."
In a related development, MP Mohamed Shordi submitted an urgent interpellation in parliament demanding an explanation why the government chose to build a sports arena and shopping mall in an area prone to severe seasonal flooding.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
