Egypt: Relocate people to protect Pharaon's tomb

After 60 years of debate, the Egyptian people living in the hills near Luxor agreed to relocate, allowing visitors and archaeologists to approach nearly 1,000 tombs located beneath their houses. According to authorities, the relocation also aims to protect the graves.

The Egyptian government has firmly moved 3,200 families in the village of Qurna to a newly built settlement a few kilometers away. The cost of building this settlement is about $ 31 million.

A formal ceremony was held yesterday, December 2 and bulldozers were taken to the scene to destroy mud brick houses in the village of Qurna, near the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

Officials said clearing the village could help them survey more closely the graves and protect them from water damage caused by village activities.

Governor Luxor said they would take a month and a half to demolish the village. However, some villagers claim they will not leave, citing new houses too small and they have lost revenue from tourism services.

It is thought that for years, villagers have dug up many graves beneath their houses and sold many of the things they found.

A resident stood watching the bulldozer destroy a house in Qurna (Photo: AP, TTO)

T.VY