Cairo - Egypt on Wednesday said that its decades-old ration system, would give "vulnerable groups" preferential access to subsidized food. Ration cards were to shortly be distributed to Egypt's poorest and disadvantaged groups, state media reported. The would-be beneficiaries include seasonal workers, street vendors, the jobless, divorcees and orphaned children. People with special needs and chronic ailments are also covered by this "exceptional" decision, the media added, citing government officials. Employees at state or private sector with a monthly salary of up to 1,500 Egyptian pounds (Dh250) will be entitled to these cards, which give holders access to subsidised food, including bread, cooking oil, sugar and rice. Up to four members of each eligible family will benefit from the new system, the Supply Ministry said. The ministry insists the decision would not exclude current beneficiaries of the ration system, but did not say how many people would benefit from the new arrangement nor how did the special categories would impact other ration card holders. Around 71 million Egyptians of the country's 95 million people already benefit from the food subsidy system. Some lawmakers, however, criticised the government for setting LE1, 500 as the maximum monthly salary for employees eligible to apply for a new ration card.
