Egypt reinstates suspended food‑subsidy cards after data review

Egypt's Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has launched a set of procedures to reorganise the food‑subsidy system. Beneficiary data are being re‑examined and citizens whose cards were suspended or marked “not eligible” may now submit appeals. Updating card data through the Digital Egypt platform or at roughly 500 post offices is required before an appeal can be considered.

About 850,000 people were excluded after the data‑cleaning operation, but the ministry stresses that the move is intended to direct support to those who truly qualify, not to cut the overall programme. The state continues to allocate roughly 175 billion Egyptian pounds for bread and food subsidies, serving around 66 million people with bread assistance and about 61 million with food subsidies via 24 million cards. A specialised committee meets regularly to review the appeals submitted by cardholders whose cards were suspended.