Mit Ghamr

Mit Ghamr
Old photo of children and their father playing cricket at Mit Ghamr Railway station. The father lost his leg whilst working with the Egyptian labour corps in Sinai.
The Nile Delta
Mit Ghamr Location in Egypt
Coordinates: 30°43′N 31°15′E
Country	Egypt
Governorate	Dakahlia
Area
• Total	5.14 sq mi (13.31 km2)
Elevation	62 ft (19 m)
Population  (2021)
• Total	153,754
• Density	30,000/sq mi (12,000/km2)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EST)

Mit Ghamr (Arabic: ميت غمر, IPA: [ˈmiːt ˈɣɑmɾ]) is a city in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. It is a major center producing aluminium accounting for more than 70% of Egypt's total production, especially aluminum utensils. It is a city in Dakahlia Governorate, where it is second only to Al Mansurah in population and importance,It was a center of Sufism during the Mamluk era, and was later settled by foreign communities in the modern era. It also played a role in resisting the French and British occupations.

History

Mit Ghamr was historically known as "Minyat Ghamr", but Over time, the name evolved into its current form.

During the Mamluk era, the city was a center for Sufi scholars and religious figures, attracting disciples from across Egypt. Several historical shrines remain, such as the Shrine of Sidi Muhammad al-Wa’iz, Sidi Khalaf, and the Forty Saints, dating back to the 15th century. The Mamluk Sultan Qaitbay attempted to meet Abu al-Abbas al-Ghamri, one of the city's renowned Sufi figures, but was unsuccessful, so he later sent his son to visit him.

In the Ottoman era, Mit Ghamr thrived as a key trade hub due to its strategic location along the Nile River trade routes. However, the city suffered significant destruction when Abd al-Daim bin Baqar, a rebel Arab tribal leader, burned it down during his revolt against Ottoman rule.

Général François Lanusse

During Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt, Mit Ghamr resisted by cutting off supplies to the French forces along the Nile Which angered the French. On June 5, 1799, the French attempted to crush a revolt in Mit Ghamr. They headed towards the village of Kafr Negm in sharqia where the Mit Ghamr rebels had gathered, preparing to confront the French. A fierce battle ensued between the two sides, ending in the defeat of the rebels, who suffered 130 casualties. Napoleon Bonaparte then ordered the reinforcement of French forces in Mit Ghamr by establishing permanent military garrisons to maintain control of the Nile Delta. However, Mit Ghamr witnessed several subsequent disturbances, forcing the French army to resort to repressive and violent methods to impose security and stability. In retaliation for the seizure of the ships, the French General Lanusse ordered the burning and destruction of the city.

A picture of one of the gates of Dawoud Salama (French man) Palace in Mit Ghamr

Mit Ghamr map in 1913

By the 19th and early 20th centuries, during the rule of the Muhammad Ali dynasty, Mit Ghamr became home to a large foreign community, including Greeks, Italians, and French residents. At its peak in the late 19th century, the foreign population exceeded 200 individuals, which was significant for a provincial Egyptian city. Many European-style villas and mansions remain from this period, such as the Babban Mansion (formerly an Italian bank) and the Imbroir Mansion.

In 1902, a huge fire broke out in Mit Ghamr that lasted 12 days and spread to the surrounding villages. The result of this fire was the death of more than 5,000 people, which made this incident the subject of poems of mourning by Egyptian poets such as Ahmed Shawqi and Hafez Ibrahim.

THE RAILWAY STATION AT MIT GHAMR, EGYPT, SHOWING THE LEWIS GUN ON THE ROOF

THE TENTS OF THE PATROL OF THE 15TH LIGHT HORSE REGIMENT, ON THE RAILWAY STATION AT MIT GAHMR, DURING THE EGYPTIAN REBELLION

AN ARMOURED TRAIN AT MIT GHAMR RAILWAY STATION DURING THE NATIVE RIOTS

Mit Ghamr, like other Egyptian cities, felt negative feelings toward the British occupation. One of the most notable events occurred after Youssef El-Gindi declared the Zifta Republic in 1919. British forces sent military reinforcements to storm Zifta. After failing to take control, the forces withdrew to Mit Ghamr to regroup in preparation for a new attack. However, they encountered fierce resistance from the people of Mit Ghamr, prompting Britain to dispatch the 15th Australian Cavalry Regiment to quell the unrest in the city and ensure the restoration of control. British forces also used armored trains to protect railway lines and secure military supplies, which played a pivotal role in British military operations during this period.

The Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society with Frederick Oakley Lasbrey founded a medical mission in Mit Ghamr in 1928.

In 2013, Mit Ghamr witnessed widespread protests and demonstrations against the Muslim Brotherhood in front of the group's headquarters in the city, leading to clashes between protesters and Brotherhood members, culminating in the storming and destruction of the headquarters.

Monuments

• Al-Ghamry Minaret is an ancient minaret dating back to the Mamluk era in Mit Ghamr.
• Emir Hammad mosque is considered one of the ancient Islamic monuments in Mit Ghamr, the mosque dating back to the Ottoman era, specifically the seventeenth century AD.

Geography

Mit Ghamr is located on Damietta branch of the Nile, and just on the opposite side of the Nile located another city called Zifta which belongs to Gharbia Governorate. Mit Ghamr is located in the middle of four governorates, Dakahlia to the north, Al Qaliobiah to the south, Al Sharqiah to the east and Al Gharbiah to the west. It is about 43 kilometers away from Al Mansurah and 28 kilometers away from Zagazig, the capital of Sharqia, also about 35 kilometers from Banha, the capital of Qalyubia, and 29 kilometers from Tanta, the capital of Al Gharbiah.

Villages

Mit Ghamr includes many villages such as Mit Yaeish, Mit El Faramawi, Mit Nagy, Dundait, Masara, Simbo Maqam, Makkam, Kafr Serenga, Sant Mai, and Sanafa. Those villages are located around the city where farmers grow various crops such as corn, rice, wheat and cotton.

Climate

Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as hot desert (BWh).

Climate data for Mit Ghamr
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	18.7 (65.7)	20 (68)	22.8 (73.0)	27 (81)	31.6 (88.9)	33.8 (92.8)	34 (93)	34 (93)	32.1 (89.8)	29.6 (85.3)	25 (77)	20.7 (69.3)	27.4 (81.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	12 (54)	12.9 (55.2)	15.4 (59.7)	18.9 (66.0)	23.1 (73.6)	25.8 (78.4)	26.8 (80.2)	26.7 (80.1)	24.8 (76.6)	22.5 (72.5)	19 (66)	14.3 (57.7)	20.2 (68.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	5.4 (41.7)	5.9 (42.6)	8.1 (46.6)	10.9 (51.6)	14.7 (58.5)	17.8 (64.0)	19.7 (67.5)	19.5 (67.1)	17.5 (63.5)	15.5 (59.9)	13 (55)	8 (46)	13.0 (55.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	9 (0.4)	6 (0.2)	5 (0.2)	2 (0.1)	2 (0.1)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	3 (0.1)	6 (0.2)	10 (0.4)	43 (1.7)
Source: Climate-Data.org

Population

The population of markaz MIT Ghamr is 698,863 as of 2023and the population of Mit Ghamr city is 156,319 as of 2023.

Education

Faculty Entrance to Faculty of Sharia and law in Tefahna

In Tafahna, one of the many villages surrounding Mit Ghamr, is a newly-founded branch of Al Azhar University. This university was built by locals and serves hundreds of students.

Inside Mit Ghamr itself is the Faculty of Specific Education, Mansoura University Branch.

Economy

In 2022, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated the Mit Ghamr Investment Zone, covering a total area of 18 acres, at a cost of EGP 418 million, with the aim of supporting economic and social development in Egypt, attracting foreign investments, encouraging local investments and providing job opportunities, as it includes 107 industrial units.

Religion

Mit Ghamr also has a large Coptic Orthodox Church, called Marigirgis church. The church has been there for many years. Some people thought that Saint George appeared in the church around the year 1920 when there was a big fire in the town and the church was the only place saved from the fire, claiming that they saw him hovering on top of the church with his horse.

Mit Ghamr was the town in which Dr. Ahmad El Naggar set up the first Islamic bank which pioneered the global Islamic Banking system.

Notable people

Sheikh Muhammad AL Shaarawy

• Mit Ghamr is home to one of the best known Islamic scholars, Sheikh Muhammad Metwally Al Shaarawy, who was born in the village of Daqadus where he was finally buried.
• Noman Ashour is an Egyptian poet and playwright, born in Mit Ghamr, He is known for establishing realism in Egyptian drama, He has many plays that have been felt among Egyptians.
• Gehad Grisha is Egyptian former football referee who refereed in the Egyptian Premier League from and was a FIFA-listed referee from. He refereed at five consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments between 2012 and 2019, and also officiated at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
• Salah Nasr is an Egyptian military and political leader, born in the village of Santamay, Mit Ghamr District, He was the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service between 1957 and 1967, Salah Nasr is considered the most famous head of Egyptian intelligence and has a prominent role in raising the status of Egyptian General Intelligence, Many successful operations were carried out during his tenure.
• Selim Hassan was the most famous Egyptian Egyptologist Born in Mit Nagi, Mit Ghamr, He was the first native Egyptian to be appointed Professor of Egyptology at the University of Cairo, a post he held from 1936 to 1939, He was then made Deputy-Director of the Antiquities Service. he wrote the 18-volume Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt in Arabic and supervised the excavation of many ancient Egyptian tombs under the auspices of Cairo University.
• Hemat Mustafa is an Egyptian media figure born in Mit Ghamr. She is from the pioneer generation and is considered the first female broadcaster to appear on Egyptian television and read news bulletins.