CAIRO – The Nubians in Egypt have finally been promised that they can return to the vicinity of their ancestral land after years of displacement following the immersion of most Nubian villages in the 500-kilometre lake that formed on the completion of the High Dam in Aswan in the l960s. Around half of the Nubians then went to Sudan and the other half were mainly relocated in the Aswan Governorate. The Egyptian Nubians have long felt a sense of injustice accentuated by a feeling of negligence on the part of the regime. They have cherished and preserved through the years a legacy of cultural heritage that has been passed on from one generation to another whether it is related to their language, lifestyle or traditions. Their feeling of nostalgia was therefore accentuated by missing the kind of life they were used to in the new villages and inadequate houses built for them. Today Sharaf government has responded to their demands and accordingly a body will be founded for the development of Nubia and a higher committee to be formed to follow up this entire file away from the jurisdiction of the Aswan governor. The decision to relocate Nubians on the shores of Lake Nasser (the Egyptian half of the High Dam Lake) has revived their spirits and made them feel more part and parcel of this nation. But this should actually take place within a huge project to develop the lake, the shore and surrounding area in compliance with sound environmental provisions, such that Nubians would not be the only beneficiaries. There should be others as well, working in fishing, agriculture, tourism and other service enterprises including cottage industries. Fears over environmental pollution have actually prompted many to criticise such a venture as envisaged. But building a sound base for the project coupled with genuine follow up and awareness campaigns regarding environmental conservation could ward off these fears.
