Cairo: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli has issued directives to systematically identify all residential buildings at risk of collapse, aiming to establish an effective mechanism for addressing this pressing issue. Madbouli's instructions were announced during a meeting with Local Development Minister Manal Awad, Minister of Housing, Public Utilities and New Urban Communities Sherif El-Sherbiny, and other officials to discuss measures for dealing with unsafe residential structures.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the prime minister proposed offering alternative housing units to residents currently living in hazardous buildings through the Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund (SHMFF). In the meeting, the local development minister shared a preliminary assessment of the number of buildings at risk and highlighted ongoing collaborations with the Ministries of Housing and Social Solidarity to devise solutions.

The housing minister identified several causes for the structural vulnerabilities, including lack of regular maintenance, tenants' reluctance to vacate unsafe homes, fraudulent construction materials, and illegal modifications like unapproved additional floors. He outlined a strategy focused on forming resident associations for building maintenance, enforcing renovation or demolition decisions, and strengthening the role of committees responsible for inspecting unsafe structures.

The strategy put forth involves coordinating with municipal authorities to ensure that occupied buildings are maintained properly, and any unsafe structures are either reinforced or demolished as necessary. This initiative aims to mitigate the risk of building collapses and ensure the safety of residents.