Claims on social media have been circulating that those who were severely affected by the recent Alexandria floods are receiving large sums of money as compensation.
A photo of Alexandrian resident Shabaan, whose house was completely damaged from the floods, was circulated in several platforms and TV programmes with the claim he received aid amounting to EGP 50,000.
“I only received EGP 3,000 from the social solidarity ministry, after they reviewed my losses and EGP 1,000 from Women of Egypt association,” Shabaan told Daily News Egypt on Tuesday, in response to those claims.
“Some people were going to help me but now they will not after seeing this photo. I do not know who posted this,” said the 38-year-old.
According to Shabaan, TV broadcasters who aired the picture Monday night did not try calling him in advance to verify the amounts he received. He also decided not to hold interviews with journalists or TV broadcasters after this.
“Many people circulated my picture and used it for propaganda, while I did not receive the help they claimed,” Shabaan added.
Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Waly decided Monday to allocate EGP 240 to 67 families that were affected by the rain floods last week in Alexandria, in addition to blankets and nutritional aid.
The ministry allocated EGP 10,000 for the families of those who died in the flood and EGP 2,000 for those injured. Additionally, it called on rescue personnel to be present on the field among those affected families to support them constantly.
The death toll from the rain rose to seven, according to the administrative prosecution, including children. One horse drowned in the flood that covered the streets, homes, cars, and hospitals. Roads and train stations, as well as the Corniche, were flooded from excessive rain.
Staggering pictures of people drowning were circulated by Alexandria residents on social media platforms with the hashtag ‘Alexandria Drowns’.
The photos included two children lying on the pavement dead after they were electrocuted by a fallen electricity cable while crossing the street. Photos of a police station and a hospital were also taken in which they can be seen surrounded by water, indicating that the number of casualties could be higher as a result.
