Egypt and the invasion of Ukraine : More than a butterfly effect

In the past three days, I believe the whole world glued in front of the TV as well as the social media to follow the updates of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

I was more than glued in front of the TV because this war is not only alarming to the West but also alarming to Egypt and it is the usual butterfly effect.

It is not a big secret but Egypt, the world’s largest wheat importer depend on both Ukraine and Russia mainly for its needs.

Ukrainian couple in Egypt once upon time, I hope 
they are fine now for real. Do not know the source though

Egypt imported last year 80% of its wheat needs from Ukraine and Russia together.

In 2021, Egypt imported 5.5 million tonnes of wheat, on top of the 3.5 million tonnes produced locally, according to data released by the supply ministry in December according to Ahram Online.

This is happening at the same time the Egyptian government states that it will raise the price of subsided bread for the first time in 30 years. 

And Ethiopia began generating power from GERD, What next !?

Despite all the warnings by both Egypt and Sudan , despite all the requests of the international powers and organizations, Ethiopia began to generate power from its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in yet another unliteral move.

On Sunday , Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed congratulated all Ethiopians as GERD’s first turbines began to generate power.

Abiy Ahmed , his wife and Pietro Salini , the CEO of WeBuild Group

He went to the location of the dam and celebrated with the workers and Italy's WeBuild Group officials  the start of the first turbine's operation.

Needless to say , I do not think all Ethiopians are in the mood of celebration especially those in the Tigray region.

In a galaxy far far away : Egypt’s Civics exam in year 1937

This was the final exam for Civics and morals in year 1937 for Egypt’s Thanaweya Amma or High school ‘s senior year.

It is in Arabic , so I am sorry for my bad translation

The students have to answer those questions in 1.5 hours

First , the students have to answer the following two questions

Kodak Agfa Presents : Luxor’s Deir El-Bahry aka Hatshepsut temple in February 2012 (Part-1)

This time Kodak Agfa is going to present photos taken from a decade ago and it feels so weird and yet so close!!

I know I am lazy but for my defense, 2012 was among the years full of action in Egypt to the level that amazes me till now.

Anyhow enough of excuses and nostalgia and let’s end that 2012-trip in Luxor and Aswan with the legendary Deir El-Bahry’s site of Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple.

Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple in Luxor 

It was the last major site I took photos in that short visit in Luxor after the Karnak and Luxor temples.

Rayan of Chefchaouen and the tragedy that united Arabs from the Gulf to the ocean

When the Arab TV channels announced late Saturday night that the Moroccan child Rayan was rescued and retrieved from that deep well in a remote area in Rif Mountains’ Chefchaouen , it was a moment of hope after nearly of 100 hours of anxiety.

Rayan and a small goat in happier times "Twitter"

The video of the rescue members team transferring Rayan wrapped in a foil blanket gave hope to many that the 5-years-old boy can make it after four days in 32m deep dry well.

Little Rayan in the foil blanket after his retrieval in the outskirts of Chefchaouen 
"Mosaab El-Shamy for AP" 

After all , the Moroccan media gave us information that medical teams hours earlier were looking after him.

It was a short moment of hope unfortunately like the many moment of hopes in the Arab World. It ended by a statement issued by the Moroccan Royal Court. 

The Moroccan Royal Court announced 20 minutes or less after the initial hopeful moment that Rayan passed away and that rare moment of hope turned into the a moment of sadness and despair

King Mohamed IV who did not issue a single statement about the incident in those four days presented his condolences to Rayan’s Parents via mobile phone as Moroccan TV cameras recorded the moment in unbelievable scene showing the faces of the sad grieving and extremely tired parents !!!

Why would the Moroccan state-owned TV record that sad moment ?? What do they want to prove !? That Mohamed IV was too human and cared for his own people !? If he and his men really cared , he would not have allowed the TV to air that private moment.

Another thing in this tragedy and unfortunately no one wants to bring it up.

Coronavirus on the Nile: 24 months of Covid-19 in Egypt in graph

Again it is time for one of those monthly Covid-19 posts in Egyptian Chronicles and I hope that I will not have to do this inshallah soon as the pandemic ends worldwide.

This time it is a quick look into official Covid-19 numbers in Egypt after 24 months since its arrival to the country in February 2020.

An Egyptian woman wearing a mask in Cairo "World Bank"

The usual disclaimer: According to Minister of Health Hala Zayed in January 2021, the official numbers of cases represent between 10%-15% of the real number of cases worldwide Egypt included.

Those official numbers represent the patients who enter coronavirus isolation public hospitals in the country according to official statements, not the cases in private hospitals or those who receive treatment at home.

Here is the graph, it is interactive so you can click on it and click on the tabs to compare between 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Coronavirus on the Nile: Egypt’s Covid-19 January 2022 breaking records numbers in Graph

This is the time of our monthly post about the coronavirus pandemic and its official numbers in graphs in Egypt.

This is the second January to pass in Egypt during the Covid-19 pandemic, unfortunately.

A masked sheikh walking in Zamalak "by Yahia Ahmed" 

Hopefully inshallah, it will be the last Covid-19 January.

Disclaimer: According to Minister of Health Hala Zayed in last January, the official numbers of cases represent between 10%-15% of the real number of cases worldwide Egypt included.

This statement was repeated this January by the Health Ministry officials too.

#Coronavirus on the Nile : February 2022’s Covid-19 coverage in Egypt and Arab world “Live”

It is a new month under the Coronavirus pandemic unfortunately.

It is the third February Egypt and several Arab countries live through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Egypt and several Arab countries are currently living during the Omicron wave.

A girl sensitizing her hand at Cairo International Book Fair in New Cairo
"Egypt's Health Ministry"

For some countries , it is the fourth wave for some countries and the fifth for others.

Personally, I was test positive for coronavirus in the last week in January but I am recovering thank God.

Hopefully, this month will witness the decline of that Coronavirus wave and

Please stay safe and try to get the booster if you can.

Get vaccinate if you are not vaccinated please.

Below is our live coverage for everything coronavirus in Egypt and the Arab world in February.