CAIRO: Governor of Aswan, Samir Youssef approved most of the Nubians' demands with regard to their repatriation around Lake Nasser on condition they provide the governorate with the exact number of people who want to go back to their original hometowns, said Musaad Herki, head of the Nubian Club in Cairo. Speaking exclusively to Daily News Egypt, Herki pointed out that the governor's response came in the wake of the first conference - which took place two weeks ago in Aswan - organized to discuss the return of Nubians to the area around Lake Nasser. Titled "Nubian Migration, Present and Future, the meeting was the first of its kind to feature the participation of the Nubian clubs and high-ranking officials from the Ministries of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Irrigation and Water Resources, Education, Social Solidarity and Housing along with members from the People's Assembly and the Shoura Council. The Nubians demanded the repatriation of 5,521 families to five villages to be set up around Lake Nasser at the cost of LE 200 million. They also called for a separate parliamentary representation for Nubia, which is currently represented in both the People's Assembly and the Shoura Council as part of the Kom Ombo constituency. The new migrants from Nubia as well as other provinces will share 10,000 acres. "The conference is the fruit of seven months of efforts, revealed Herki. "We wanted to be well prepared for the conference so that we can obtain the desired results for our community. "The club had to meet with several Nubian communities based in Cairo, Alexandria, Ismailia, Suez and Port Said as well as Nubian villagers based in the new homeland in Nasser El Nuba, Kom Ombo to spread awareness about the importance of this conference to their future, he added. Herki explained that not only will the repatriation be a compensation for the Nubians who were evicted when the construction of the High Dam began in 1963; it will also provide jobs for unemployed Nubians who will take up farming again. "It will also solve the problems of many villagers in Nasser El Nuba, whose houses are in need of renovations every year because of the instability of the soil, which is not construction-friendly, he explained. However, regarding parliamentary representation, the governor said that a few constitutional amendments need to take place first for this to happen. Herki argued that moving to Kom Ombo was the only option Nubians had at that time. "It is true that in the new homeland in Nasser El Nuba we have better infrastructure, but there is no stability, he said. He explained that 53 percent of the people used to work in agriculture, but the desert nature of the area that they were relocated to led the Nubians to look for jobs in other parts of the country. "The unemployment rate is 45 percent among Nubians. The new villages around Lake Nasser will provide a good opportunity for them to go back to their grandfathers' profession. Herki also highlighted efforts directed towards integrating the Egyptian Nubians with their compatriots in Sudan. "By doing that we are preserving our traditions. "Reinforcing the presence of Nubians along the borders provides the strongest protection for the country, he said.
