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Egypt Economic And Social Issues

Bread, Water and Birth Control in Egypt

In September 2003, in an interview with Al-Ahram, the Egyptian government newspaper, in response to a question about economic problems with a reference to a current shortage of bread - President Mubarak of Egypt stated, once again, publicly and forcefully that rapid population growth in Egypt was the primary cause of the country's economic and social problems. He added that the country was doing what it could to solve these problems, but that the government could only do so much. Implicit in his announcement was a patriotic call to the people to have smaller families. If the President of Egypt speaks out publicly about population growth, it must be a grave concern of state officials. Indeed, his wife has also made major speeches on the subject. Why are they speaking out and what are the numerous factors influencing the severity of the problem?
In examining Egypt's population trends, birth control efforts, and the very basic problems of sufficient water for agriculture and household use and sufficient bread to feed the population, the question is: What are the ramifications of the present population growth trends in Egypt on water supply and bread supply? Is there truly a population crisis emerging in Egypt?

In Suzanne Mubarak's speech at a youth conference in 2002, she was more blunt that her husband:
"My Sons and Daughters, …Every newborn on the land of Egypt every thirty seconds means a horrible and rapid population increase that our natural resources or productive energies cannot keep up pace with…. The solution of the problem is not any more confined to the Ministry of Health and Population. It has become the responsibility of the entire society…Youth participation in the awareness campaign…and in the illiteracy-fighting campaign…and the call for widening the base of educating females, especially in the countryside, is of paramount importance…Sustainable development is a means for the...