Second year Arabic students are set to return to Cairo to continue their year abroad after being flown back to the UK three weeks ago amid widespread protests and rioting before the fall of President Mubarak.
This comes as the Foreign Office relaxes travel advice for British citizens heading to Egypt this week.
The Foreign Office’s advice, put in place on 28th January, previously advised against “all but essential” travel to Cairo, Alexandria and Suez.
Now, it continues to warn the situation across Egypt is “unpredictable and may change quickly,” reminding British citizens there is still a “high threat” from terrorism. It says, “Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in public places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers, such as hotels and restaurants.” A nationwide curfew is also still in force in Egypt.
Gabby Odah, a second year Arabic and French student from St Catz, told Cherwell, “I have booked my flight back on 2nd March. I consulted the Oriental Institute before booking the flight back to Cairo; staff were due to have a meeting to discuss what we should do on Friday. I was also waiting for the Foreign Office [advice] to change. After this was changed, I checked with the University again, who said it was fine to book flights back.”
However, the University has advised all students returning to Egypt to obtain Syrian visas, so that if Egypt becomes violent again, students can go straight to Syria and continue an Arabic study programme there.
Odah continued, “I was upset to have to fly back from Egypt. As I got to the airport and got on the plane I realised how much I would miss Cairo. I am happy to be going back, although I have mixed feelings, as I will miss home.
“We are not worried, and now we are prepared with our Syrian visas. We are all really looking forward to getting back. One student is already back now, and the rest of us are flying out in the next few days. At the time, I was really glad to get away from the violence – I did not think we were in danger while we were there, as we left just before things became really violent in Cairo.”
Other language students are on progammes in Syria where concern over the prospect of civil unrest is rising. So far the country has remained calm.
President Bashar al-Assad has promised to push through political reforms after inheriting power from his father, Hafez, in 2000, after three decades of authoritarian rule.
