USAID administrator celebrates KomOmbo Temple Project

CAIRO – 26 March 2019: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green and Chargé d’Affaires Thomas H. Goldberger joined Minister of Antiquities Khaledal-Anany and Aswan Governor General Ahmed Ibrahim in celebrating the completion of a groundwater lowering system at KomOmbo Temple.

“Rising groundwater is a threat to ancient structures throughout Egypt. Damage to this and other sites would be a significant loss—not just for Egypt, but for the global community. USAID is proud to partner with the Government and people of Egypt to protect these key archaeological sites,” noted USAID Administrator Mark Green.

USAID, working in partnership with the Ministry of Antiquities and the National Organization for Potable Water and Sanitary Drainage, expended $9 million for the system to lower the groundwater level and thus preserve this cultural treasure, which is an important tourist attraction in Upper Egypt.

Earlier onMonday,Green praised the leading role of the Egyptian government headed by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi in promoting religious pluralism and freedom of worship.
This came during his meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister MostafaMadbouli in Cairo; Green also stressed the important role of civil society in supporting development in Egypt.

The meeting tackled ways of promoting programs of common interest, stressing the importance of the cooperation between the US Agency for International Development and the Egyptian government over 40 years.

During his visit, Green met with Minister of Investment Sahar Nasr to discuss cooperation on topics such as women’s economic empowerment, youth participation and private sector development. He also met with civil society leaders, business leaders, religious leaders and government officials.

Green visited Al-Selhdar mosque, the Jewish temple and Aga Khan Foundation, which is keen to preserve the important historical, cultural and religious sites in Egypt to help promote economic growth and job creation.

Over the past 25 years, USAID has provided more than $100 million to preserve, restore, and protect cultural heritage sites throughout Egypt. The funding has supported the development of large-scale engineering systems at the country’s most prominent historical sites, including the Sphinx in Giza, the Karnak Temple in Luxor, and the Catacombs in Alexandria.