CAIRO - Long lines of young Egyptians wanting to immigrate queued outside embassies in Cairo, before the outbreak of the January 25 revolution, because of the bad economic conditions prevailing. Their subsequent expectations that these conditions would improve were not met and the scene of these queues at embassies of youth has returned. One consulate has revealed that the number of applications presented by Egyptians to obtain immigration visas has increased, reaching a daily minimum of 500. A report recently issued by the International Organisation for Migration in Cairo stated that bringing down the regime has not affected the intentions of young Egyptians wishing to immigrate, as indicated in their replies to questionnaires in a survey carried out by the organisation. The report stressed that current conditions in Egypt have contributed to driving young people into emigration, who are looking for jobs whether they are inside or outside Egypt. The Arab states are still preferred by young Egyptians wanting to immigrate with Saudi Arabia heading the list followed by United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Away from the region the USA and Italy come next. Many factors are attributed in the report to the young people's desire to emigrate, such as corruption, the security vacuum, low salaries and absence of constitution reform. The high level of unemployment is exacerbated by formerly employed people, who have lost their jobs and has led to the rising wave of emigration from Egypt even among the rich, with respect to the conditions of instability and expectation of their freedom being restricted, suggested 28-year-old Nour Hamed. He left his job in the field of heavy transport to travel and live with his wife in the United Arab Emirates and emphasised that he would not come back home until conditions have improved. “I cannot anticipate the future, but I believe that the military council has failed in running the country's affairs and that persuades me that the future of Egypt has become ambiguous, especially with rising Islamic currents and security vacuum”, stated Hamed. A more secular 20-year-old Egyptian named Mohssen Mahmoud went to the Canadian embassy to achieve his dream of immigration into any western country and not an Arab state. However, he discovered that it is not an easy matter and requires him to complete his studies and be independent of his family. Murad A, 22, has not suffered any financial crises and believes that migration has become a goal for all young Egyptians, especially after the outbreak of the revolution. “The Egyptians have ignored the principles of human rights with the world declaration of human rights stipulating freedom of life and belief and expression of opinion.” Another 22-year-old, Hossam Wahbi, a Faculty of Law graduate, emphasised that he is an atheist, while noting that he loves Egypt and would not wish to leave but he has reasons spurring him into going. He fears expressing his own ideas in a society here, which does not accept different ideas and does not respect the right of expression of different view points, especially the followers of the rising Islamic current. Recent statistics show that there are increased applications to immigrate in the wake of bloody clashes, especially among Egyptian Christians during March, April, May last year. Gamil George, an engineer told the local Arabic magazine Rose al- Youssef, that the Canada embassy deals with those wishing to immigrate to Canada without discrimination. According to the regulations, the processing department focuses on a high level of education degree, language and practical experience, instead of concentrating only on experience in a specific job. Although many boats used by human traffickers, notably to Italy and also to Greece sink, there are still a large number of male Egyptian illegal would-be immigrants. Mamdouh Shalabi, 23, from Fayoum has such a dream of immigration though he admits the risk and he will not give up on his decision because he paid LE40,000 ($6,660) to a human trafficker.
