Egyptians stuck in Kuwait on hunger strike .. and Al-Sisi: a timetable for returning those stranded abroad

A number of social media pioneers shared videos showing part of the hunger strike stuck in Kuwait, and their protest against the Egyptian authorities' neglect of them, and their continued detention in shelters.

The video clips showed food pile up outside the rooms designated to house the Egyptians, and one of the officers tried to calm them down and persuade them to break the strike.

In turn, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi directed the state agencies to continue the current efforts to return the stranded citizens abroad, during a meeting held yesterday Saturday with Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly, the foreign ministers and Egyptians affairs abroad, tourism and civil aviation, after more than a month of the outbreak of the crisis.

Through social media platforms, thousands of Egyptians stranded in a number of Arab and foreign countries who wish to return to their country for fear of an outbreak of the Corona virus, appealed to the Egyptian government to allow them to return to their country, but the government stipulated that the Egyptian who wants to return sign a pledge that he will bear the costs of residency Quarantine at a hotel at his own expense.

A statement by the Egyptian Presidency indicated that Sisi stressed during the meeting that the government should set a timetable for the return of Egyptians stranded abroad, taking into account the precautionary measures and the plan to confront Corona.

And last Tuesday, one month after the outbreak of the crisis, the Egyptian government announced a new definition of "stuck" that excludes thousands of workers.

In an official statement published by the official page of the Egyptian Cabinet, the government defined "stuck" that every Egyptian was on a temporary visit to one of the countries, or was traveling for tourism, or on a medical trip, or on a job, commercial or cultural activity, or was present At a conference abroad, or from students who closed their university towns, and were unable to return to Egypt due to the disruption of air traffic due to the outbreak of the Corona virus.

The government definition did not include the thousands of workers who were laid off from their jobs or forced to take an open leave without pay in a number of Gulf countries due to the economic repercussions of the Corona crisis.

The Minister of Immigration and Egyptians Abroad Affairs, Nabila Makram, invited, in a message, workers abroad to kindness in the homeland, stressing that the Egyptian state seeks to return all Egyptians abroad, but it is necessary to be aware of the absorptive capacity of the state, she said.

The minister added in newspaper statements that the ministry is now returning those stranded from abroad who do not have fixed residency, while the second stage will witness the return of Egyptians who have residency permits abroad.

Calling on Sisi
In turn, the Egyptian artist Amr Yousry called on Sisi to return him from New York to Egypt, complaining of the government's intransigent measures after his stumbling with Egyptians who were stranded due to the "ban" of Corona.

And via a live broadcast on his Facebook page, Yousry entered a crying fit, announcing his desire to return to the country from the United States, after suspending the flight because of Corona, complaining of the requirements and costs of the quarantine.

And like him, like many who were stranded in the United States, specifically New York, the most affected state in Corona, he seeks to return to his country until an official Egyptian statement outlining the conditions for the return of those stranded, namely the payment of the price of the return ticket in addition to the costs of 14 days of quarantine in the city Marsa Alam, pay before boarding, i.e. in advance and before travel.

The Egyptian artist expressed his dissatisfaction with those conditions that weigh heavily on the likes of his people, for overnight accommodation in Marsa Alam costs the individual 1500 pounds if the room is individual, and 750 pounds if it is double, who has the potential to pay 25 thousand pounds before boarding only because he wants the most basic rights.

He appealed to Sisi to return him, saying, "Please feel among us, our heads ... we are dependent, we have returned ... we changed a lot from me here, related, oh group, feel us."

And that was not the only distress that started since Corona's ban, as distressed Egyptians spread in several countries calling on the Egyptian authorities to evacuate them under the current circumstances of the Corona epidemic crisis, but the Egyptian authorities have not yet responded.

One of the Egyptian workers stuck in Saudi Arabia published a video clip denouncing the government’s decision to allow workers to return at their expense and stay in Marsa Alam hotels, saying, “Talk to me, we have been without work for two months, so how can we provide 20 thousand pounds of quarantine.”

And on the communication platforms, many of the tweeters expressed their anger and resentment towards the Egyptian government for the suffering of thousands of workers stranded in a number of countries, demanding the speedy return of them to the homeland.

Others also accused the government of damaging the reputation of Egypt and Egyptians around the world, stressing that most of the countries of the world regain their citizens stuck because of the Corona crisis, and no country has requested costs for that.