The governor of North Sinai has decided to resume schooling in the Egyptian border city on Sunday after schools have been closed for ten days. General Abdel-Fattah Harhour told Ahram Online that as of December 7th, all Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid schools will reopen. Harhour explained that the decision of suspension, issued 20 November, was due to security reasons. "Rafah schools are now secured enough. We cannot suspend schooling forever." he said. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency in certain areas of the North Sinai governorate in October, following a major militant attack in Sheikh Zuweid that left a minimum of 30 army personnel dead. Coinciding with the state of emergency, the Egyptian armed forces also launched a campaign against terrorism in the restless border city. The campaign included creating a one-kilometre buffer zone along the border line with the Gaza Strip, which required evacuating the subjected area of local residents. General Harhour confirmed that the second phase of evacuating the border line has not begun yet. According to the governor, the second phase is due to affect 500 more metres. He highlighted that the governorate's directorate is undertaking the necessary administrative measures to finish up the first phase, including the compensations and settling the displaced locals. Turmoil has escalated in North Sinai in July 2013, after the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi. Frequent militant attacks, mostly claimed by Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, have taken place against army personnel, leaving dozens killed throughout the year. The group pledged loyalty to the Islamic State organisation early last month. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/117202.aspx
