New residency requirements leave Syrians in Egypt in limbo
New residency requirements have plunged Egypt’s 1.5 million Syrians into uncertainty and left many at risk of deportation.
New residency requirements have plunged Egypt’s 1.5 million Syrians into uncertainty and left many at risk of deportation.
The government of Iraqi Kurdistan has suspended residency renewals for Syrians in its territory without issuing a formal decision, leaving many in a state of chaos and confusion about their future in the autonomous region.
Erbil’s April 4 decision to stop issuing visas to Syrians has been a disaster for those for whom the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was a safe haven from conscription or a place to reunite with family members after years of separation.
Syrians, like other refugees in Egypt, face a host of barriers to residency and work permits. Pushed into the informal sector, they face exploitation and abuse. Their plight points to the darker side of Egypt for millions of foreigners.