Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Noor Shamari, "In Cairo, we have no prospects"
Published in Daily News Egypt on 26 - 10 - 2009

CAIRO: Officially, there were 9,126 Iraqi refugees registered with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Cairo in September, the second largest group after the Sudanese.
Most started arriving in late 2006, and in 2007 they constituted the largest group of registered refugees, according to UNHCR. However, since 2008, some have begun to return to Iraq. Between January and September 2009, UNHCR assisted 619 Iraqis to return, and a further 774 registered Iraqi refugees left Egypt in the same period, largely to return to Iraq.
In the second of a series of interviews with refugees living in Cairo, IRIN spoke to Noor Shamari (not her real name), a divorced Shia mother-of-two from Mansour District in Baghdad, about why she left home, and the prospects she has in this host country.
"I left Baghdad in 2006 with my two daughters by plane after receiving a series of death threats from militants. I used to be the vice-president of a human rights organization in the capital. We were doing lots of good work for the people but the militants saw us as traitors because we cooperated with the new government. It was nothing to do with sectarianism; our organization was made up of Shia and Sunni Muslims.
"The threats started with a phone call from someone saying that I had been chosen to run in local elections. He asked if I could go to a specific location to be officially endorsed. I knew it was a lie because I had never shown any interest in such matters and friends of mine had been killed after responding to similar trick phone calls.
"So I didn't go and then the threats by phone became more direct, saying they would kill me and my daughters if I didn't stop my work. So I took all our savings and left for Egypt.
"Because we had some money when we got here, life in Cairo was quite good and I managed to put my daughters Jihan [15] and Iman [20] in private school and university. But after nearly four years here, my savings have run out and I depend entirely on UNHCR, with whom I am registered, and CARITAS [a Catholic NGO and UNHCR implementing partner in Egypt].
"UNHCR gives me LE 4,500 [$823] a year for my daughters' education, but it costs LE 5,500 [$1,005]. I also receive a monthly allowance from CARITAS because I am considered a vulnerable case. It goes towards paying my rent of LE 880 [$161] a month for a flat in Nasr City. My daughters don't know that I receive any support. They think I work because that's what I tell them and every day I pretend to go to work because in my society it is shameful to have to seek help from others outside the family.
"My daughter had to drop out of university because I could no longer afford it. It was very disheartening; especially when she saw her friends graduate. I won't be able to keep my youngest in that school for much longer either.
"I have tried to find work but it is difficult. I got a job as a secretary once but left after less than a month. I felt humiliated as I was treated with no respect and was continually asked to do menial tasks such as make tea for people. I occasionally do some tailoring work with Iraqi women I know and I make my daughters' clothes. UNHCR is also paying for me to learn English while I look for other jobs.
"Life in Egypt has been very difficult over the past year. Despite all the problems in Iraq, before the death threats we had quite a good life there. Here, in Cairo, we have no prospects. I have come close to suicide a few times. I'm in contact with family and friends in Baghdad and they say it's still not safe to return to my area. I have had an interview [with UNHCR] for resettlement in the USA - that is my only hope. -IRIN


Clic here to read the story from its source.