Egypt to remove border city Rafah for buffer zone
Published today (updated) 08/01/2015 15:42
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=752455
CAIRO (Ma'an) -- The Egyptian authorities have decided to remove the city of
Rafah on the borders with the Gaza Strip completely, says the governor of
North Sinai district Abd al-Fattah Harhour.
In a news conference Wednesday, Harhour said it would be necessary to remove
Rafah city completely in order to create a buffer zone on the borders with
the Gaza Strip.
"A new Rafah city is being established with residential zones appropriate to
the nature and traditions of the residents of Rafah."
He confirmed that engineering units have already been asked to start work on
the new city.
The governor's remarks came ahead of the second stage of evacuation of Rafah
houses in preparation to create a buffer zone between Egypt and Gaza.
According to the original plan, 1,220 houses were slated for evacuation.
Some 2,044 families live in those houses.
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