311 Egyptians return from Canada as Cairo continues to help stranded nationals

CAIRO – 13 May 2020: A total of 311 Egyptians stranded in Canada arrived at Marsa Alam International Airport Wednesday aboard an exceptional EgyptAir flight as part of thousands of expats who returned to Egypt with the help of the government.

The returnees who came from Toronto were examined at the airport in southern Cairo before being transferred to the quarantines established by the authorities to spend 14 days in isolation. The quarantine is usually held in hotels and university dormitories and has been generally praised by the people who have returned.

Egyptians flying back home may amount to 16,000 in the upcoming period, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said in a video conference with the members of his cabinet on Wednesday.

Civil aviation ceased to operate in Egypt in March 19 to counter the spread of Covid-19. Since then, more than 3,000 Egyptians abroad have returned home, according to the Ministry of Emigration on May 9. As many as 5,300 Egyptians were in the process of being evacuated from Kuwait alone, Makram said May 5.

Egypt also helped evacuate thousands of tourists in a move applauded by the governments of the U.K., Italy and Mexico.

The Egyptian authorities have exceptionally flown stranded Egyptians from various countries across the world, including the U.S., the U.K., Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkey, Uganda, Rwanda, Chad and Niger.

In an online conference with some Egyptian businesspeople abroad, Minister of Planning Hala el-Said and Minister of Emigration Nabila Makra discussed means to reintegrate returning Egyptians into the economy and benefit from their experience by offering investment opportunities.