Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi says he is aware of the extent of the suffering and economic pressures in Egypt.
In an improvised speech during a ceremony to mark the 72nd anniversary of Police Day, Sisi said Wednesday that maintaining stability and security is not the job of the government alone, adding that the people also have their share of this duty.
All Egyptians are responsible for the security, progress and future of Egypt, the president stressed.
“I realize the extent of suffering and economic pressures in Egypt. I appreciate Egyptians’ resilience even more,” Sisi said, noting this is not moral talk.
“I am aware of the difficult living conditions and high prices,” he said, adding that the whole globe is in a tough and turbulent situation.
He also attributed that to the destruction in the Gaza Strip, sadly stating that some 25,000 Palestinians, mostly women and kids, have died and more than 60,000 others have been injured. The besieged enclave has been completely destroyed, he said.
The conditions on the western, eastern and southern borders of Egypt have affected its economy, Sisi said. All the incidents have repercussions, he noted.
The president commented on a documentary played early on in the ceremony, saying it highlighted the difficult circumstances in Egypt that followed the January 25 Revolution in 2011, especially the jailbreaks.
Sisi touched upon attempts back then to stir up the public opinion against the State, particularly the Ministry of Interior.
“It is necessary that the Egyptian people always be united against any challenges or difficulties.”
Sisi also talked about terrorism, which cost Egypt some 120 billion pounds to overcome with such limited resources.
Egypt had no other choice but to fight terrorism, or else conditions would have further worsened to instability, the president said.
Thanks to sacrifices by the police and military, with other segments of society, Egypt could face all forms of terrorism and maintain its security and stability, the president added.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said the Egyptian state need about 3 billion dollars to secure staple commodities for all citizens monthly, including wheat, corn, cooking oil, soy beans, fuel and electricity.
He said electricity stations alone need natural gas at about one billion dollars monthly.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi added that power plants require amounts of natural gas that cost USD one billion every month.
He asserted that if the Egyptian state did not work to increase its dollar resources to be more or at least equal to the country’s spending of dollar, the economic problem will continue.
If the foreign currency’s resources, including exporting goods, Suez Canal revenues, tourism or remittances of Egyptians abroad, did not increase or at least be equal to the spending of dollar, the economic problem will continue, the president elaborated.
Concerning citizens’ comments on regulating prices in the Egyptian markets, the president urged the government to control prices. He also urged traders to settle for appropriate gains.
El Sisi appreciated the stances of Egyptian people especially simple citizens during the current circumstances.
All Egyptians should take care of their country and not only me and the government, he noted.
He noted added that Allah the Almighty has given Egyptians an example concerning the current economic crisis in Egypt as after the Gaza crisis, the number of trucks entering the enclave has decreased from 600 every day to only 220 trucks in the past few days.
El Sisi refuted claims saying that Egypt is behind halting the entry of aid into Gaza.
The president addressed Egyptian people saying: Egypt will never do this.
He noted that Rafah border crossing is open 24/7, adding that Israeli measures are hindering the entry of aid into the enclave. He added that this is considered as a sort of pressure exercised by Israel on the enclave and its residents to release the Israeli hostages.
