North Sinai Governor Abdel Fattah Harhour announced Thursday that the third phase of the buffer zone plan along the border areas with Gaza Strip has started.
Buildings and facilities located in the area of the buffer zone have been completely surveyed in preparation for evacuation and demolition he added.
The first and second phases have been completed with each phase covering 500 meters. It is believed that the third phase will cover an additional 500 meters.
The first phase involved the displacement of more than 1000 families whilst the second phase involved the evacuation of 2044 families from the area. The third phase will involve approximately 1215 houses and 40 governmental facilities according to Harhour’s statements.
The buffer zone is amongst the security measures taken by the Egyptian armed forces in 2014 in order to destroy smuggling tunnels connecting North Sinai with the Gaza Strip. The tunnels were used to smuggle “terrorists and weapons” into the restive Sinai Peninsula according to Egyptian authorities.
