Asyut Governorate

Governorate of Egypt

Governorate in Egypt

Asyut Governorate

Governorate

Nasser mosque

Flag

Asyut Governorate on the map of Egypt

Coordinates: 27°15′07″N 31°05′24″E﻿ / ﻿27.252°N 31.09°E﻿ / 27.252; 31.09
Country|  Egypt
Seat| Asyut (capital)
Government

• Governor| Jamal Nour El Din Mohamed Zaki[1]
Population

(January 2023)[2]

• Total| 5,011,815
GDP

[3]

• Total| EGP 126 billion
(US$ 8.0 billion)
Time zone| UTC+2 (EET)
HDI (2021)| 0.676[4]
medium · 22nd

Asyūṭ Governorate (Arabic: محافظة أسيوط) is one of the many governorates of Egypt. It stretches across a section of the Nile River.[5] The capital of the governorate is the city of Asyut.[6]

## Etymology[edit]

The name of Asyut is derived from early Egyptian Zawty (Z3JW.TJ), late Egyptian Səyáwt into Coptic Syowt. An A was added to the beginning of the name Syowt to become Asyut.[7]

## Overview[edit]

The rate of poverty in Asyut is more than 60%. Recently, some social safety networks have been provided, in the form of financial assistance and job opportunities. The funding has been coordinated by Egypt's Ministry of Finance, with assistance from international organizations.[8]

## Municipal divisions[edit]

The governorate is divided into municipal divisions, with a total estimated population of 5,011,815, as of January 2023. In Asyut Governorate, there is 1 new city, three aqsam and eleven marakiz. Sometimes a markaz and a qism share a name.[2][clarification needed]

Municipal Divisions  Anglicized name | Native name | Arabic transliteration | Population
(January 2023 Est.) | Type

|
|
|
|

Abnub | مركز أبنوب | Abnūb | 469,686 | Markaz
Abu Tig | قسم ابو تيج | Abū Tīj | 110,510 | Kism (fully urban)
Abu Tig | مركز أبو تيج | Abū Tīj | 258,283 | Markaz
El Badari | مركز البدارى | Al-Badārī | 307,072 | Markaz
El Fateh | مركز الفتح | Al-Fatḥ | 359,263 | Markaz
El Ghanayem | مركز الغنايم | Al-Ghanāyim | 154,088 | Markaz
El Qusiya | مركز القوصية | Al-Qūṣiyah | 526,837 | Markaz
Asyut | مركز أسيوط | Asyūṭ | 578,782 | Markaz
Asyut 1 | قسم أول أسيوط | Asyūṭ 1 | 299,892 | Kism (fully urban)
Asyut 2 | قسم ثان أسيوط | Asyūṭ 2 | 254,312 | Kism (fully urban)
Dairut | مركز ديروط | Dayrūṭ | 674,516 | Markaz
New Asyut | مدينة اسيوط الجديدة | Madīnat Asyūṭ al-Jadīdah | 9,674 | New City
Manfalut | مركز منفلوط | Manfalūṭ | 595,750 | Markaz
Sahel Selim | مركز ساحل سليم | Sāḥīl Salim | 205,847 | Markaz
Sidfa | مركز صدفا | Ṣidfa | 207,303 | Markaz

## Population[edit]

According to 2015 estimates, the majority of residents in the governorate live in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 26.5%. Out of an estimated 4,245,215 people residing in the governorate, 3,119,112 live in rural areas, as opposed to only 1,126,103 in urban areas.[9]

## Demographics[edit]

Asyut has a population of over 4 million people, with a significant Coptic presence. Muslims and Christians have lived together in Asyut and at times there have been clashes. In July 2013, a large number of Christians took to the streets to protest Muslim extremism in Asyut.[10]

Whether Christian or Muslim, Asyut is home to a very conservative society and in October, 2016 Upper Egypt's first beauty pageant, which was to be held in Asyut, had to be canceled due to death threats and security issues.[11]

## Cities[edit]

* Abnub
* Abu Tig
* Asyut
* Dairut
* El Badari
* El Ghanayem
* Manfalut
* El Quseyya
* Sahel Selim
* Sanabo
* Sodfa

## Industrial zones[edit]

According to the Egyptian Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), in affiliation with the Ministry of Investment (MOI), the following industrial zones are located in this governorate:[12]

* Al Awamer Abnoub
* Al Zarabi in Abu Tig
* Al Safa (Beni Ghaleb)
* Sahel Selim
* Dairout
* Badari
* New Asyut

## Projects and programs[edit]

In 2016, Switzerland committed to funding a solid waste management program in Asyut, a project with the Egyptian Ministry of Environment that will conclude in 2021. The National Solid Waste Management Programme (NSWMP) involves the construction of infrastructure for new as well as the expansion and improvement of existing waste treatment, landfill, and recycling facilities.[13]

## Important sites[edit]

Ancient quarries are an important feature of Asyut. There are about 500 rock-cut tombs and limestone quarries all around Asyut.[14] The governorate of Asyut includes the Ancient Egyptian tombs of Meir,[15] and the town of Durunka,[16] which is a pilgrimage site for many Copts who come to visit a monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary.[17][18][19]

* Deir El Gabrawi
* Durunka
* Meir

## Notable people[edit]

* Ahmed Lutfi el-Sayed, Egyptian nationalist.
* al-Suyuti, a Sunni Muslim theologian who died in 1505.
* Akhnoukh Fanous, political activist[20]
* Coluthus, 5th century Greek poet.
* Ester Fanous, female activist[21]
* Farghali Abdel Hafiz [Wikidata]
* Gamal Abdel Nasser, Second President of Egypt[22]
* Hafez Ibrahim, poet born in Dairut, Asyut[23]
* Ismail al-Qabbani
* Louis Gris [ar]
* Melitius of Lycopolis, founder of the Melitians.
* Mustafa Lutfi al-Manfaluti
* Mohamed Ahmed Farghali Pasha [ar][24]
* Mohamed Mustagab
* Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church[25]
* Samir Ghanem, a comedian, singer, and entertainer.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "رسمياً.. المحافظون الجدد ونوابهم يؤدون اليمين الدستورية أمام الرئيس". Almasry Alyoum (in Arabic). 30 August 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
2. ^ a b https://www.capmas.gov.eg/Admin/Pages Files/202331512347عدد السكان على مستوى المراكز والاقسام فى 1ـ 1ـ 2023.pdf. Retrieved 3 April 2023. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
3. ^ "GDP BY GOVERNORATE", mped.gov.eg
4. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Subnational HDI - Table - Global Data Lab". globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
5. ^ "Assiut Governorate". google.com/maps. Google Maps.
6. ^ Hopkins, Daniel J. (1997). Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary (3rd ed.). Merriam Webster. ISBN 978-0877795469.
7. ^ Macmillan & Co (1905). Guide to Egypt and the Sudan: Including a Description of the Route Through Uganda to Mombasa. Macmillan. pp. 105–.
8. ^ "Social Solidarity Ministry to provide citizens with disabilities financial support". Egypt Independent. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
9. ^ "Population Estimates By Sex & Governorate 1/1/2015" (PDF). CAPMAS. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
10. ^ Thabet, Mamdouh; Hendawi, Hamza. "Christian Egyptians confront Muslim stronghold". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
11. ^ Farouk, Menna A. (October 11, 2016). "Egypt Pulse - Threats drive out beauty pageant in Upper Egypt". Al Monitor. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
12. ^ "Industrial Zones of Governorate". Ministry of Investment Egypt. Archived from the original on 2018-11-23. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
13. ^ "Switzerland funds programme to improve solid waste management in 4 Egyptian governorates". Daily News Egypt. 5 October 2016.
14. ^ Mostafa, Ashraf Aboul-Fetooh (2012). "Caves of the Nile Valley (Governorate of Assiut, Middle Egypt): a long-term interaction between human societies and their environment". Géomorphologie: Relief, Processus, Environnement. 18. Open Edition: 37. doi:10.4000/geomorphologie.9719. Archived from the original on 2016-11-03.
15. ^ Maspero, Gaston. History of Egypt, Chald_a, Syria, Babylonia and Assyria (Complete). Library of Alexandria. ISBN 9781465523808. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
16. ^ Albera, Dionigi; Couroucli, Maria (2012). Sharing Sacred Spaces in the Mediterranean: Christians, Muslims, and Jews at Shrines and Sanctuaries. Indiana University Press. p. 169\. ISBN 9780253223173.
17. ^ "The Convent of Virgin Mary - Assiut". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
18. ^ Meinardus, Otto (June 1, 1962). The Holy Family in Egypt. Coptic Net. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
19. ^ Fouly, Mahmoud; Xue, Wang. "Virgin Mary's convent, monastery in Assiut eye witnesses of Holy Family's flee to Upper Egypt". Xinhua. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
20. ^ Meinardus, Otto F. A. (September 1, 2006). Christians In Egypt: Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Communities - Past and Present. American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 9781617972621. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
21. ^ Hanna Fahmy Wissa, Assiout: the saga of an Egyptian family, 2000.
22. ^ Stephens, Robert Henry (1972). Nasser: A Political Biography. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-21224-7.
23. ^ "Ḥāfiẓ Ibrāhīm EGYPTIAN POET". Britannica. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
24. ^ "مصر تسبق السعودية فى رخصة قيادة السيدات بقرن" (PDF). Al-Shorouk. 3161: 12. 28 September 2017.
25. ^ "Pope of Egypt's Coptic Christian Church dies". USA Today. March 17, 2012. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.

## External links[edit]

* El Wattan News of Asyut Governorate
* The Middle East and North Africa
* History Of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Vol. 1, by Gaston Maspero, Audiobook

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