Egyptians struggle with first bread subsidy cut in decades

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00:00 Fewer people are queuing these days outside bakeries in Cairo.

00:04 On the 1st of June, the subsidized price of loaves, on which 70% of the population relies,

00:10 increased 400%.

00:11 "It's much more expensive.

00:16 Before we got 20 loaves of bread for one pound.

00:20 Now we only get five."

00:25 Egypt is caught in an unprecedented economic crisis that has made prices skyrocket.

00:30 The government is making cost-cutting changes to comply with the requirements of the international

00:35 monetary fund loans.

00:37 The rise in the price of bread is such an unpopular and sensitive issue that no baker

00:42 wanted to speak to us on camera openly.

00:45 "When they raised the price for bread, suppliers raised the price of wheat.

00:50 I have to choose, either accept this or stop working.

00:55 What can I do?"

00:59 Everyone at this agricultural conference is also talking about the price hike.

01:04 Many are particularly worried that it will mean many Egyptians will struggle more to

01:09 access nutritious food.

01:10 "Definitely the increase in the prices is going to increase poverty in Egypt.

01:16 Where the challenges for people's nutrition I think are much more about what's going on

01:20 with the prices for high-value foods, for protein, for fruits and vegetables.

01:28 Not so much about just making sure that they have sufficient calories, but making sure

01:31 that they have nutritious diets."

01:34 With a public debt representing more than 80% of the GDP, Egyptians expect more austerity

01:39 measures.

01:40 According to official figures, 30% of the population lives under the poverty line.

01:46 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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