The governorates of greater Cairo announced their plans yesterday to meet the demands of its residents during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Hospitals, bakeries and other service sectors were put on a state of emergency. The governorates also announced the presence doctors throughout regions to distribute Iftar meals – the traditional meal to break the fast – to financially disadvantaged citizens. Governors announced plans to combat fraud and manipulation by commodities dealers during Ramadan, and established formal complaint departments to receive any reports of such activity. Cairo officials made licenses available to those serving public Iftar in an attempt to control pedestrians and not impede traffic flow. Cairo Governor Abdel-Kawy Khalifa obtained a license from the electricity company to decorate the streets of Cairo with lights. Khalifa established a formal inquiry department for citizens to lodge complaints to authorities in all directorates, and made sure this department was working in coordination with the main headquarters of the governorate. The governorate will make available sanitary and affordable meat – around 37 EGP (U.S. $6) per kilo – to the public at large, said Soad al-Kholi, head of the veterinary medicine directorate. A number of new meat outlets will be opened to serve all residents in the governorate, al-Kholi said, adding that animals are imported alive and then butchered under the supervision of veterinary doctors. Bakeries will amend their working hours to cope with the crush of customers both for Iftar and Sohoor, said Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz, head of the supply directorate. Bread will be available all through the day, he said, and the shares for gas cylinders will increase during the holy month. Public tables will be made available in Giza, said Giza Governor Ali Abdel-Rahman, so long as they do not obstruct traffic flow and not placed on the street or in the middle islands. All facilities and shops providing Ramadan supplies and food will be supervised and overseen by the Egyptian Health Ministry to ensure health standards are complied with. Abdel-Rahman also decided to raise the level of emergency in area hospitals. The governorate is prepared to manage any food poisoning cases at hospital emergency rooms, said Abdel-Rahman, adding that doctors received special training in food poisoning treatment and diagnosis prior to the holy month. The governorate will execute on a plan to maintain traffic flow during Ramadan, said Abdel-Rahman. Cafes and restaurants will be banner from serving Iftar and Sohoor on sidewalks, and any violators of this policy – created to maintain pedestrian traffic flow – will be treated harshly
