A study for forming an agricultural society for Nubians in Aswan’s “Karkar” valley is underway by the Central Agency for Reconstruction, according to a Ministry of Housing statement Sunday.

The ministry aims to provide each of the 200 families living in the area with five acres of agricultural land, Minister of Housing Mostafa Madbouly added.

However, water availability is a problem in the area, with Madbouly adding that he will get in contact with Minister of Water Resources Hossam Moghazy to provide water sources. This would allow for the cultivation of the provided lands.

A water tank with a capacity of 1,000 cubic metres is also to be implemented and delivered within three months, Madbouly said.

Shops and a handicraft industries area is also supposed to be established in the Valley to provide jobs for the residents.

The Karkar Valley was originally a project launched by the Ministry of Housing with the support of the Ministry of Defence in 2009. It was to be used to compensate Nubians who migrated from Nubia and Aswan to other governorates in Egypt as a result of their displacement from their homes in the 1960s.

Their displacement was attributed to the construction of the High Dam that is situated across the Nile River in Aswan, which forced approximately 17,699 families to leave as rising waters had submerged the area.

The first phase of the project was delivered back in 2012, with 1,572 houses spread over eight villages in Karkar Valley, while the second and third phases are currently on the works, with 448 houses.

The total cost for the second and third phases amount to EGP 78m, the ministry’s statement highlighted.

Three presidents have gone since the establishment of the project, and it is still in progress, but with poor results so far, as the number of Nubians returning to live in Nubia remains very little.

“There must be ongoing sessions between us, in order to fulfil your needs,” said Madbouly, speaking to a number of Nubians during his tour at the project site, the statement added.