Fifteen percent of antiquities in Egypt’s Nile Delta, as well as Northern and central Egypt, are being stolen by residents, according to Abdel Halim Nour El Din, former head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Governorates at highest risk for losing their artifacts are Sinai, Marsa Matrouh, al-Wadi al-Gadid, Minya, Assiut, and Beni Suef.
Protecting antiquities in desert areas is costly and requires helicopters and Jeeps, according to Nour El Din.
Although some museums in these regions have security equipment, most lack fire prevention and anti-theft systems. In addition, alarm systems and security cameras installed by the Supreme Council of Antiquities have broken and employees have neglected to inform the authorities.
Nour El Din denied allegations made by Copts and Jews regarding the neglect of their antiquities, arguing
that such claims are unfounded and are a form of political incitement.
