Heat afflicts Egypt’s workers, families: 'If the metal can't endure, how can we?'

A young boy finds relief in the River Nile amid the intense heat. Climate projections by the International Energy Agency show this populous and water-scarce desert country is warming faster than the global average. North of Cairo, Egypt, May 6, 2024. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

The extreme heat means further hardship among the city's more vulnerable residents. Tarek, a day laborer and father of three, says he suffered heatstroke while clearing debris for a [construction] contractor. "The next day," he says, "I was replaced by another worker and lost the job.” Cairo, Egypt, May 29, 2024. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

People who work outdoors like Uotaa are among the most vulnerable. The ILO reports a “high incidence of heat-related illnesses and accidents,” especially in the construction and agricultural sectors. Cairo, Egypt, August 8, 2024. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Bekhet, a father of five, with another child on the way, says he lost most of his vision in his right eye after years of heat stress at work, where he operated large bread ovens in facilities with limited ventilation. Cairo, Egypt, August 8, 2024. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Moussa, a baker who makes bread for hundreds of families daily, endures chronic heat rashes due to his working and living conditions, without air conditioning, in his dense, heat-trapping neighborhood. Cairo, Egypt, August 10, 2024. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Dina El Ghayaty, a dermatology specialist, says her hospital recently received nearly 5,000 people with heat-related issues in one day. “The number of patients has surged this year, compared to when I started here in 2013,” she said. Cairo, Egypt, August 11, 2024. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Gamal, a longtime electrician, fixes a core generator at a poultry farm. "If the metal can't endure, how can we?" he asks, referring to the machine that keeps overheating. Cairo, Egypt, May 23, 2024. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

For Samer, a sports photographer, his car’s air conditioning serves as a line of defense against heat stress, as he travels around the capital to document a top Egyptian soccer team’s activities. Cairo, Egypt, May 31, 2024. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

A family uses the searing summer heat to fight a bug infestation in their rugs and couch. Hot conditions often trigger influxes of insects, even rodents, that disproportionately impact low-income households like theirs. Cairo, Egypt, August 8, 2024. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

A bottle accidentally traps a mouse who sought out water during a protracted heatwave . Cairo, Egypt, June 24, 2024. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)