By Lisa Schick

Egypt protests hit close to home

Jan 28, 2011 | 3:30 PM

Cairo protests are escalating as citizens break curfew and set fire to government buildings.

The protestors are calling for an end to Hosni Mubarak’s twenty-year presidency, continuing to demonstrate in the streets even after a curfew was put in place and a military presence was introduced.

Prince Albert resident, Amna Hamid, who lived most of her life in the Egyptian capital, agrees with what the protestors are trying to do.

“So it’s time for change, what (can) they do … there is no easy (change) in Egypt,” Hamid said.

“It’s time for change for them, I hope God helps them and I hope everybody see them on the TV (and) helps these people, because really, there’s no fair, you know?”

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She says there is a huge gap between the rich and the poor, that “there is no middle class in Egypt.”

“There is no job, there is no food for the poor people, there is no home, some of them just , like lots of them, they (are) homeless, you know, there is not even shelter,” Hamid said about the large numbers of poor.

The protests are getting more violent as the Egyptian police force fight back at the protestors and military forces are called into the city.

Polices forces have used things like tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets on the crowds as well as physical force. So far eight protestors have been killed.

Hamid still has a lot of family in Egypt and Cairo and there is no way to get in contact with them so she is very concerned.

“I’m worried about them and there is no connection to call. There is no internet, there is no phone, nothing, you can’t even call and ask about them. I’m so worried about them,” said Hamid.

She said there is really nothing that she can do about it but watch and pray.

Hamid hopes the protestors get what they want and get a new government which will give them what they need.

“I hope for them a good life – I hope for them a good government … I hope the one that’s going to come is going to be better for them,” she said.

Hamid doesn’t know whether or not the protestors will succeed in removing Mubarak from power, but she thinks they have the right idea in rising up and trying to get better lives for themselves.

“For long time they should do it because these people really handle a lot, you can’t imagine when you have like six children and or five children at home and then you don’t have money to give them even bread, there’s nothing,” Hamid said.

Even though Hamid and her daughters are living in Prince Albert now her heart and her prayers go out to her family and friends still living in Egypt.

news@panow.com