Current Events in Cairo

It is with a heavy heart that I use this blog to express my condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the victims of last week’s violence in Port Said, and to those affected both directly and indirectly. It is not my place in this blog to comment on the ‘whats’ or the ‘whys’ so I will not. Instead I will simply continue to advise students to be cautious and not take any unnecessary risks. Don’t stay out too late, don’t go into remote areas (such as the desert) for any reason, always let someone know where you are, don’t join any protests or demonstrations and, ladies especially, try and avoid being alone in taxis for too long especially at night. Keep checking the news for updates as the situation may change or escalate suddenly and without warning. This advice, and other methods of self-protection, I urge all students to adhere to.

The news depicts Cairo to be a place full of chaos and abandonment and in many ways I believe that a lot of people living here have felt that way at some point when watching footage of what is happening. However, to try to reassure those who may have concerns I can safely say that, as usual, the unrest remains reasonably localised and most residents here in Cairo have watched events unfold on their television sets, just like the rest of the world. Protest groups that have ventured away from Downtown have been, by and large, peaceful marches to demonstrate solidarity in mourning.  

For the most part daily business has not been affected (although it is subdued, with many shops and businesses remaining closed as a mark of respect to those who died). The same applies to IH Cairo ILI, where lessons this week are happening as per normal. With the right amount of caution being taken, Cairo life for students here at the college does not have to be compromised in many ways at all. 

If this blog was purely a personal account with no connection to work then I may well have written an entry solely documenting my own thoughts and observations on the topic, using what little knowledge I can glean about it from the news and what other people have told me. I think everyone here like me, whether Egyptian or not, is trying to find their own way of making sense of a situation that once again has put Egypt under the worldwide spotlight and put the events which started on January 25^th 2011 right back into global conversation. As I am writing this under the official banner of IH Cairo ILI I have decided that it is not really the space for personal analysis of complex political situations. However neither is it appropriate - this week - to jovially comment on Cairo living. Instead, just this once, Inshallah, I think I will stop writing here as my own mark of respect to those who died and to those still standing up for what they believe in, against all odds, and with an intensity of conviction that I never cease to marvel at.

 To keep yourself informed and help you make your own decisions about personal safety in the country, the British Embassy have a very good and up-to-date travel advice section on their website. Just click here to be taken directly to the right page.