By Nourhan Saber
The Life of Syrians In Egypt
According to Egypt MFA estimate as of September 2016, around 500,000 Syrian refugees fled from their country and came to Egypt after the Syrian Civil War in 2011. Syrian refugees are building new lives of challenge and motivation and are working hard to identify themselves..
Syria’s war has decentralized from peaceful protests against the government in 2011 to a violent revolution that has drained in many other countries. This war had made Syrians leave their home country in emergency.
According Al Ahram news article, “The ongoing war in Syria that erupted almost five years ago has caused a refugee crisis that commentators see as perhaps the worst since World War II”
The Syrians made an enormous effort and work to stand on their feet and start their lives. They are working in various fields by opening successful businesses in the form of food and clothes shops and supermarkets. Even refugees that have a limited funds are seen all over Cairo, in clubs, at mosques and even standing in traffic lights selling home-made desserts.
Omar El Sabagh, owner of a Syrian desserts shop in Downtown New Cairo called “Desserts of Omar El Sabagh” said: “ This is the first store that i opened in Egypt, i have in Emirates and in Aleppo, Egyptians started to know our traditions more and many of my clients come especially to downtown to buy from my store.”
“Me and my family came to Egypt after the civil war that occurred in Syria, i chose not to close my shop in Aleppo even though it is not working like before, but i am hoping that things get back to normal one day.” El Sabagh said.
“It is true that we sell the same thing but we put our syrian tastes in order to make our food more delicious, attractive and satisfying,” he continued. “I am sure Egyptian shops are not offering our products as we have special syrian tastes.” El Sabagh said.
Egyptians should be impressed by how Syrians are growing themselves in Egypt and how they spend time and effort in their work to meet people’s expectations, they know how to work hard and gain success.
This photo is taken from Inside a Syrian shop that sell pasteries. [Nourhan Saber]
The active population of concern in Egypt as of 31st December 2014 was 191,698 individuals. Out of those, 138,301( 50,143 cases) were Syrians representing 72% of our overall registered population. All of these Syrians seek a home and a new life in Egypt, as Egypt for years and years has had a brotherly relationship with Syria.
For decades and decades Egypt has been the home not only to Syrians but to many other nationalities from all over the world. All of which resulted in the transformation of the Egyptian Culture over the years.
Information was taken from UNCHR