CAIRO - Egypt is suffering chronic economic problems because of a long-standing corrupt regime, the January 25 revolution and the ensuing insecurity and chaos that has gripped the nation. Consequently, some suggestions are being made to raise funds to ease the crisis and create some development projects to salvage the economy. Last week, this corner looked into a suggestion made by veteran Egyptian writer Fahmi Howeidi calling for a temporary suspending of the Umrah and Hajj (minor and major pilgrimages respectively) journeys for Egyptians, who have previously made the pilgrimages. He proposed channelling the money that would be saved, estimated at around LE5 billion, into supporting the national economy. This was not the only suggestion that has been recently made to raise money to reinvigorate the economy. Some people have called upon Egyptian expatriates to expedite remitting their funds saved in different countries to Egypt to help augment the county's foreign currency reserves. To address a specific economic problem, some Egyptians working in Saudi Arabia have set up a company to plant wheat to reduce Egypt's import of this strategic crop. While considering Egypt's future and potential for strengthening its economy, one cannot continue to ignore the deadly landmines infesting vast tracts of Egypt's Western Desert as it nears the Mediterranean Coast (and also the Sinai Desert) and hamper creating significant development projects on them. When Egypt raised this issue at some international forums and requested the assistance of the international community, the matter ended in some trivial assistance. Of many countries of the world afflicted with this problem of landmines, Egypt is one of the most severely affected, having in its land around 22 per cent of the landmines planted in the world. Today, the Egyptians should address the European nations especially of Britain, Germany and Italy who laid these landmines in Egypt during World War II more than a half century ago. They need to be asked to assume their responsibilities and assist the Egyptians to clear their land of this lethal legacy. It is time for the Egyptians, who have acquired international respect for their white revolution, to better acquaint the world with its problem that has caused hundreds of civilians to die and many others to suffer injuries and amputations, notably Bedouin of all ages. Additionally, many important development projects, that solve most of Egypt's economic and food problems, have had to be put on hold. In the Western Desert, minefields extend from Al-Alamain to the Egyptian-Libyan border up to 40 kilometres from the Mediterranean Coast. These landmines were planted in some 10 minefields, comprising different types and sizes, by the warring British and German and Italian troops who brought their conflict to Egypt's land during World War II. These Allied and Axis troops left behind about 17.5 million mines in many areas of the Western Desert. The most notorious was the ‘Devil's Gardens' where landmines were laid by the Axis forces led by the German leader Rommel to cover his withdrawal from Al-Alamain and prevent pursuit by the Allied forces. The landmines left behind by the Axis troops were laid in random, cluster-shaped patterns at varying depths such that, if one landmine is lifted, the other will detonate. Some estimates have been made of the cost of demining the North-western Coast, which reach up to $ 20 billion. Egypt has every right to seek assistance to clear landmines planted in its territories in the course of battles waged on its soil, in which Egypt was not involved. However, all previous governmental attempts have ended in trivial assistance being received from the European governments. This is why one suggests directing a clear call at the European nations concerned to shoulder their responsibilities and free Egypt from these killing fields that their forefathers had created in its soil and prevented it from cultivating one of its rare rainy regions. It is time for the British, German and Italian people to acknowledge their culpability – and free themselves from their guilt – in preventing Egypt from utilising vast areas of arable land where necessary water resources are available. These landmines are impeding expansion of development projects on the North Coast, including the key coastal town of Marsa Matrouh, and delaying the progress of the al-Qattara depression project, intended to be one of the giant energy generating projects in Egypt. The landmines are impeding the course of the canal planned to carry water from the Mediterranean to the depression as well as oil prospecting operations in certain parts of the Western Desert. In addition to addressing these nations through different media, the acting Government could establish a conspicuous display at Egypt's different airports bearing a written appeal to visitors to offer financial support to this country to clear its North-western Coast. The Armed Forces are the only power in Egypt involved in this arduous and dangerous process of demining some lands prior to the creation of some tourist and agricultural projects in the eastern and western minefield areas. Therefore, it could be a sponsor of the donation process, which should proceed according to a clear and well-publicised time schedule, so that Egyptians and foreign visitors alike would offer more assistance to enable this Herculean mission to be completed. 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