People removed from Egypt’s ration card system have faced major obstacles in meeting the requirements to file appeals because government agencies have refused to provide documents proving their eligibility, a source familiar with the Ministry of Supply’s appeals process told Al Manassa.
Acknowledging the problem, Assistant Minister and ministry spokesperson Ahmed Kamal told Al Manassa the ministry is working with various government agencies to make it easier for people to obtain the required documents.
The Ministry of Supply began strictly enforcing ration subsidy eligibility criteria at the beginning of June, according to sources familiar with the subsidy database who previously spoke to Al Manassa. At the same time, many citizens received notices that their ration cards had been suspended, triggering widespread debate on social media.
The difficulties undermine Supply Minister Sherif Farouk’s explanation for the low number of appeals. In a TV interview last week, he said receiving just 2,600 appeals out of 850,000 deleted ration cards indicated that those removed were genuinely ineligible for subsidies.
The ministry source, who requested anonymity, said appeals have been submitted but account for less than 0.3% of the deleted cards. The low number reflects the real challenges people face in obtaining documents from government agencies proving that the grounds for their exclusion do not apply.
People removed because they were deemed to own a luxury vehicle or more than one car face extreme difficulty obtaining documents from the traffic authority confirming they do not own any vehicles, the source said.
Others removed because of allegedly high incomes struggle to produce documents reflecting their actual financial circumstances, particularly when government databases contain outdated information or fail to reflect their current situation, making appeals more complicated.
The source added that older adults and pensioners are among those facing the greatest obstacles because they have difficulty traveling to government offices, endure long waits, and often struggle with online procedures or completing the required paperwork. As a result, many never file appeals to have their cases reviewed.
Another obstacle involves exclusions caused by data errors, including people with similar names in government databases. Some citizens were removed because their names were mistakenly linked to records or violations that did not concern them. Such cases are among the hardest to resolve because applicants must prove the records or violations are not theirs, requiring them to seek corrections from the agency that maintains the original data, which can significantly delay resolution.
Anyone removed from the ration system because of incorrect data can file a complaint with the Administrative Control Authority or the government’s complaints system, providing details of the case and identifying the agency responsible for the disputed information, whether it involves electricity, traffic records, or another authority. The relevant agencies will then investigate the complaint, the source said.
Ezzat Mostafa, a sales representative at a private-sector company, was surprised last month to find his ration card canceled because authorities said he owned a new car. He told Al Manassa he owns no vehicles and earns no more than 7,000 Egyptian pounds (about $140) a month, barely enough to support his family.
“I drive an Uber car after my morning job to supplement my income,” he said. “The car is registered in its owner’s name. When I went to the General Traffic Department to get a document proving I don’t own any vehicles, they refused, saying they had no instructions to issue that kind of certificate.”
Ahmed Nour had a similar experience after being removed from the subsidy system for allegedly owning more than one car. Nour told Al Manassa he never owned both vehicles at the same time. He sold the first years ago, and later sold the second, a 2012 model, because of financial hardship.
Nour said filing an appeal requires obtaining a document from the traffic authority confirming he currently owns no vehicles, then submitting it to the local supply office, which in turn contacts the traffic authority to verify the information before ruling on the appeal. Despite repeated attempts, however, he has been unable to obtain the document.
Ahmed Kamal acknowledged to Al Manassa that the appeals process involves “some complications” because applicants must obtain documents from multiple agencies, creating a burden for some citizens, especially older adults.
He said the ministry has begun taking steps to simplify the process by strengthening the role of local supply offices and coordinating with relevant government agencies to make it easier to obtain the required documents and verify information directly, reducing the need for citizens to travel between agencies.
The eligibility criteria the ministry has applied in recent years include high salaries or government pensions, ownership of a luxury vehicle or multiple vehicles, high electricity consumption or mobile phone bills, ownership of agricultural land, payment of high private school tuition, or settlement of large customs duties or tax liabilities.
In 2019, the government’s subsidy exclusion criteria triggered widespread objections, prompting it, under presidential directives, to reinstate about 1.8 million people to the ration card system while reopening the appeals process to review excluded cases.
