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00:00 Fewer people are queuing these days outside bakeries in Cairo.
00:04 On the 1st of June, the subsidized price of loaves, on which 70% of the population relies,
00:10 increased 400%.
00:11 "It's much more expensive.
00:16 Before we got 20 loaves of bread for one pound.
00:20 Now we only get five."
00:25 Egypt is caught in an unprecedented economic crisis that has made prices skyrocket.
00:30 The government is making cost-cutting changes to comply with the requirements of the international
00:35 monetary fund loans.
00:37 The rise in the price of bread is such an unpopular and sensitive issue that no baker
00:42 wanted to speak to us on camera openly.
00:45 "When they raised the price for bread, suppliers raised the price of wheat.
00:50 I have to choose, either accept this or stop working.
00:55 What can I do?"
00:59 Everyone at this agricultural conference is also talking about the price hike.
01:04 Many are particularly worried that it will mean many Egyptians will struggle more to
01:09 access nutritious food.
01:10 "Definitely the increase in the prices is going to increase poverty in Egypt.
01:16 Where the challenges for people's nutrition I think are much more about what's going on
01:20 with the prices for high-value foods, for protein, for fruits and vegetables.
01:28 Not so much about just making sure that they have sufficient calories, but making sure
01:31 that they have nutritious diets."
01:34 With a public debt representing more than 80% of the GDP, Egyptians expect more austerity
01:39 measures.
01:40 According to official figures, 30% of the population lives under the poverty line.
01:46 [BLANK_AUDIO]