Strife in Gaza: Palestinians Endure Hardships in Egypt Amidst Exodus from Israeli Assaults
For the past seven months, most Palestinians in Gaza have been trapped in this besieged territory, dodging Israeli military wrath. A staggering 34,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, have met their end at the hands of the Israeli military since October.
Besides bullet and bomb attacks, the people of Gaza face the harsh consequences of Israel's siege on the territory, causing a severe supply reduction of essentials like food, medicine, and more. Those who can afford it and are willing to forgo the chance of ever returning to their homes have crossed over to Egypt for refuge.
No definitive number exists, but it's estimated that thousands of Palestinians from Gaza have sought safety in Egypt since the war began. Many manage to relocate to other countries, but visa-less individuals remain in Egypt.
It's rough sailing for these Gazans, especially when it comes to employment. Hamid, a 42-year-old father of three, managed to escape to Egypt after shelling out $17,500 in coordination fees. The "temporary" visa conditions have him unable to register as a refugee, sign his kids up for school, or work legally.
"Our living conditions are horrendous," Hamid shared with Middle East Eye. "I’m using my savings and hoping the war ends before I run out of money. We survive on a shoestring budget, with an expiration date unknown."
Many Palestinians face similar hardships. Those unable to afford food have resorted to working illegally or setting up micro-businesses using an Egyptian friend or family member's name.
Medical treatment poses yet another struggle for those who have fled. Injured refugees may struggle for access, such as Samar, a 39-year-old mother. Her daughter's leg still holds three shrapnel remnants, but Egyptian hospitals refused to treat her when she arrived privately.
"She is being punished for paying to leave the war," Samar lamented to Middle East Eye.
Education also proves problematic. A waiting list for remote learning courses associated with schools in the West Bank is long with so many children now refugees. Some find help through institutions tied to Al-Azhar, Egypt's highest Sunni Muslim authority, but their temporary security and future remain uncertain.
In Egypt, Palestinians live under a constant cloud of insecurity and worry. Some families even decide to return to Gaza due to financial constraints. While some Egyptians have fundraised for Palestinian refugees, their efforts aren't enough according to Samar.
"We need it organized now on a larger scale by both Palestinian and Egyptian authorities," she urged.
Individuals from various countries fleeing conflicts face numerous challenges in new environments, but Palestinians from Gaza often grapple with unique barriers due to regional tensions, limited resources, and bureaucratic hurdles. Sustained humanitarian assistance, stronger protection mechanisms, and enhanced cooperation are critical to improving conditions for Palestinians displaced outside Gaza.
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
Palestinians who have fled from Gaza to Egypt struggle with a complex and challenging situation shaped by the ongoing humanitarian crisis and regional dynamics.
Current Situation:
- The Gaza Strip has experienced catastrophic violence, destruction, and displacement due to conflict since October 2023, resulting in immense medical, employment, and educational needs as well as refugee displacement.
- Thousands of Palestinians from Gaza seek refuge, medical treatment, work, and education in Egypt, where they encounter systemic and legal challenges and face social and political pressures related to the broader regional crisis.
- Egypt hosts diverse refugee and asylum-seeker populations but poses unique challenges to Palestinians from Gaza, especially regarding employment, access to healthcare, and education due to barriers, limited resources, and their small yet significant refugee population size.
Challenges Faced by Palestinians from Gaza in Egypt:
- Access to Medical Treatment: Many Palestinians flee to Egypt due to the destruction and severe limitations of healthcare infrastructure in Gaza. However, access to specialized medical treatment in Egypt is often constrained by bureaucratic hurdles, limited resources, and the need for approvals and permits to enter hospitals.
- Employment Challenges: Palestinians seeking employment in Egypt face legal and systemic barriers, making secured formal employment difficult due to restrictions on work permits, competition from other refugee populations, and Egyptian laws regarding foreign workers. This leads many Palestinians to informal or precarious labor, limiting economic stability.
- Educational Access: Access to education is impacted by legal status, financial ability, and availability of places in Egyptian institutions. Palestinian students may find it challenging to enroll or continue their education seamlessly due to paperwork, tuition costs, or lack of scholarships compared to more established refugee communities.
- Protection and Legal Status: Palestinians fleeing violence often have uncertain legal status in Egypt, complicating their ability to access healthcare, education, employment, and social services. UNHCR and other agencies work to improve protection frameworks, but gaps remain, especially for vulnerable groups such as women and children.
- Humanitarian and Social Pressures: The broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza, along with regional political tensions, adds pressure on host communities and the refugees themselves. Egypt engages diplomatically, but the spillover effects include restrictions at border crossings, limited humanitarian corridors, and issues with resource allocation, affecting Palestinians’ ability to enter Egypt safely and regularly.
Summary:
Palestinians who fled Gaza amid ongoing conflict face a arduous journey in Egypt, encountering numerous obstacles and hardships related to employment, healthcare, education, legal status, and social protection. Sustained humanitarian assistance, stronger protection mechanisms, and improved coordination are vital to alleviating the suffering of Palestinians displaced outside Gaza and aid in building a secure and stable future for them.
- Palestinians from Gaza seeking refuge in Egypt struggle with a difficult situation, marked by the ongoing humanitarian crisis and regional dynamics.
- Thousands of Palestinians have fled to Egypt due to the seven-month-long conflict in Gaza, resulting in a high demand for medical treatment, employment, and education.
- Many Palestinian refugees find it challenging to secure formal employment in Egypt due to bureaucratic hurdles, competition, and Egyptian laws concerning foreign workers, leading them to take up precarious jobs.
- Access to education and healthcare for these refugees is also limited due to legal status, financial constraints, and competition, while Egypt’s hospitals often deny treatment to privately arriving refugees.
- Sustained humanitarian assistance, stronger protection mechanisms, and enhanced cooperation between Palestinian and Egyptian authorities are essential for improving the conditions of Palestinians displaced outside of Gaza.
- The overall situation for Palestinian refugees in Egypt raises concerns about their security, livelihoods, and future as they face unique barriers due to regional tensions, limited resources, and bureaucratic hurdles, urging the need for immediate and collective action.
