Informal Areas in Cairo

In 2009 there are estimated to be 3.3 billion people living in cities and for the first time this is more than in rural areas. And more than one billion are living in informal areas and slums, often under difficult living conditions. In 2008, food prices rose by 27 percent in Egypt, which led to the so called ‘bread riots’. But against common perception not everybody who lives in a slum is poor. There exist as well social differences, many successful entrepreneurs achieving a lot with their own ingenuity. These photos are from a book about Informal Areas in Cairo, documenting their inhabitants, problems and chances, which will be published by GTZ Egypt in July 2009.