Egypt has issued a new directive barring Syrian nationals from entering the country unless they hold temporary residency permits, marking the second such restriction since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8.
Authorities have instructed travel and airline companies to deny entry to Syrians arriving from any country. This comes just weeks after Cairo restricted entry for Syrians holding European, American, or Canadian residency permits, as well as those with Schengen visas or married to Egyptians, unless they secure prior security clearance.
The move underscores Egypt’s increasing scrutiny of Syrians, many of whom fled to the country during the Syrian conflict that began in 2011. While the Egyptian government estimates over a million Syrians live in the country, the UNHCR places the number of registered Syrian refugees at approximately 153,000.
In a related development, Egypt has reportedly banned Palestinians arriving from conflict-affected countries, including Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan, further tightening its immigration policies amidst regional upheavals.
