In Cairo, Egypt, families have been forced to exhume the remains of their deceased relatives as the government moves forward with a controversial infrastructure project. The project, aimed at constructing new roads and bridges to ease traffic in the city of approximately 22 million residents, has led to the demolition of parts of the historic cemeteries within the UNESCO World Heritage site known as Cairo’s “City of the Dead.”
The site, centuries old and rich in history, holds the graves of generations of Egyptians. However, authorities insist the project is necessary to address severe congestion in the city. Many residents, however, are devastated by the decision.
Ahmed el-Meligui, a 43-year-old architect, is one of the many affected. He recently had to dig up the remains of 23 family members from their shared tomb, a process he described as deeply emotional. “We had already buried them once, but now it’s as if we are awakening the memories. It was very painful,” he shared in an interview with AFP.
While the government has offered families new burial plots outside Cairo, these spaces are often much smaller and located far from the capital. For many, the move has compounded their grief and frustration, as they face both the physical loss of family resting places and the emotional toll of exhuming loved ones.
The redevelopment of the City of the Dead has sparked an outcry, with families and heritage advocates concerned about the erasure of Cairo’s historical landscape, and the emotional impact on families forced to part with a cherished piece of their heritage.
