Thirty days into holding Egypt's antiquities portfolio, Ahmed Eissa has lodged a comprehensive plan with the interior ministry for securing museums and archaeological sites across the country.

Eissa told Ahram Online that the plan aims not only to tighten security, but also to remove all negative encroachments on Egypt's museums and archaeological sites due of a lack of security nationwide since the January 2011 revolution.

In collaboration with the interior ministry, Eissa explains, a comprehensive training programme for guards and security personnel of the Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA) is to be organised soon.

“We are working in collaboration with the tourism and antiquities police to provide better trained and armed security guards at all archaeological sites and museums, as well as introducing state-of-the-art security equipment,” said Eissa.

In addition, Eissa continued, the MSA is planning special campaigns to raise cultural awareness of the value of Egypt's antiquities — this part of an effort to revive the country's vital tourism industry.

It is hoped that the plan will put an end to chaos at the Giza Plateau, in Dahshur, in Historic Cairo and Matarayia, as well as all archaeological sites that have been looted or encroached upon in the last two years.