A Shocking Story Shakes Egypt.. A Nuclear Engineer Homeless on the Streets

SadaNews - Recently, the story of former Egyptian nuclear engineer Layla Ibrahim Hassan has sparked widespread interaction on social media platforms, after videos of her surfaced in which she claims she has been forced to live on the streets for about seven months due to a dispute with the landlord of the apartment she was residing in, located in Kafr Tahrmos, Giza Governorate.

Story Details

According to her account to local media, she worked at the Egyptian Nuclear Authority before her retirement, and about 8 years ago, she rented an apartment under the new rental law for 1200 Egyptian pounds (approximately $25) per month, with a periodic increase of 10 percent every two years, until the rent reached about 3000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $62), which is equivalent to her monthly pension, as she stated.

She explained that she was surprised a few months ago when the landlord demanded a rent increase again or to vacate the apartment, confirming that she refused to leave as she could not afford alternative housing costs. She claims that the landlord – through the property guard – changed the apartment locks, which forced her to live on the streets.

Government Intervention

With the rising public reaction, the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity announced that the central rapid intervention team took to the field to investigate her case and provide appropriate support, indicating that dealing with humanitarian cases is done according to mechanisms that aim to provide care and suitable housing.

Social and Economic Dimensions

The case has brought the discussion about the conditions of the elderly in Egypt back to the forefront, especially those who live alone or rely on limited pensions amid rising living costs and rents.

The story also raises questions about the state's role in protecting the rights of vulnerable tenants and the necessity to develop housing and social programs that ensure a dignified standard of living for the elderly, especially those who do not have a family support network. The presence of an educated engineer specialized in a sensitive field like nuclear energy living on the streets indicates a flaw in the social protection system.