OSAC Country Security Report Egypt

Last Updated: July 29,2021 Travel Advisory

The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Egypt at Level 3, indicating that travelers should reconsider travel to Egypt due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution in Egypt due to terrorism and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist dual national U.S.- Egyptian citizens who are arrested or detained. Do not travel to the Sinai Peninsula (except for travel to Sharm El-Sheikh by air) or the Western Desert due to terrorism; or to Egyptian border areas due to military zones.

Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System.

The Institute for Economics & Peace Global Peace Index 2021 ranks Egypt 126 out of 163 worldwide, rating the country as being at a Low state of peace. Crime Environment

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Cairo as being a MEDIUM-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

The U.S. Department of State has not included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Egypt.

The crime emergency line in Egypt 122; for tourist police, call 126; and for the fire brigade, call 180. Review the State Department’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure.

Crime: General Threat

Most criminal acts against foreigners tend to be crimes of opportunity, such as purse snatching and pickpocketing, that often involve young males. Semi-professional thieves target unaware visitors in restaurants and shops, stealing purses, phones, and purchased goods. Thieves have also broken into vehicles when valuables were clearly visible. There have been several instances where individuals passing on a motorbike have grabbed handbags, sometimes inadvertently injuring the victim. There were reports of criminal ruses against foreign visitors, often employing feigned concern over a stain/spill on an article of clothing; while helping to wipe the clothing, the criminal lifted a wallet from a purse or pocket.

Be cautious to avoid being overcharged for various services, and for becoming victims of scams common in tourist destinations worldwide. Expect to encounter aggressive vendors at tourist attractions and archaeological sites. Some will offer “free” gifts to tourists which, once accepted, often lead to demands for money. Harassment can occur anywhere. Most tourist sites have specially designated tourist police who can assist in uncomfortable situations.

Crime: Areas of Concern

U.S. Embassy personnel traveling outside Cairo require advance Embassy approval. All U.S. Embassy personnel are advised to remain vigilant at all times.

Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind, Hotels: The Inns and Outs, Considerations for Hotel Security, and Taking Credit.

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Kidnapping Threat

Kidnappings have been reported in rural areas and with tribal communities. Kidnappings are less common in major cities. Some recent reporting includes:

• In March, ISIS reportedly kidnapped 14 civilians from the village of Amoriya in Bir al-Abd. • In April, ISIS kidnapped and later killed a teacher and church founder in Bir al-Abd.

The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Egypt. Review OSAC’s reports, Kidnapping: The Basics and Active Shooter and Kidnapping Response Tips.

Drug Crime

Egypt is a transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa; and a transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers. The country also serves as a money laundering site for drug profits due to lax enforcement of financial regulations

A Supreme Standing Committee for Human Rights (SSCHR) report in 2019 stated, "the number of financial criminal cases related to the illicit trafficking and abuse of drugs amounted to 58 cases worth a total of over EGP 2,705bn."

Consult with the CIA World Factbook’s section on Illicit Drugs for country-specific information. Terrorism Environment

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Cairo as being a CRITICAL-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

The U.S. Department of State has included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Egypt, indicating that terrorist attacks have occurred and/or specific threats against civilians, groups, or other targets may exist. Review the latest State Department Country Report on Terrorism for Egypt.

The Institute for Economics & Peace Global Terrorism Index 2020 ranks Egypt 14 out of 163 worldwide, rating the country as having a High impact from terrorism.

Terrorism: General Threat

Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Egypt. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, and have targeted diplomatic facilities, tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, western businesses, restaurants, resorts, and local government facilities. Terrorists have conducted attacks in urban areas, including in Cairo, despite the heavy security presence. Terrorists have targeted religious sites, to include mosques, churches, monasteries, and buses traveling to these locations.

Several terrorist organizations operate in Egypt. The self-proclaimed ISIS-Sinai Province terrorist group (also sometimes known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM), an ISIS affiliate) is the most active terrorist group in Egypt; it pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2014. There are also ISIS in Egypt, Harakat Sawa'd Misr (HASM), Liwa al-Thawra, al-Qa’ida-linked groups, Harket Elmokawma Elsha'biya a.k.a. “Popular Resistance,” and other various smaller terrorist groups. Terrorist attacks can occur anywhere in the country.

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Terrorist attacks are primarily, but not exclusively, due to the actions of violent extremists operating out of the northern Sinai Peninsula, which continues to be unstable. Terrorist organizations are primarily active in the northeastern parts of the Sinai governorate. Most attacks in North Sinai target the Egyptian government (military installations and personnel). Egyptian security forces launched “Operation Sinai 2018,” resulting in a significant intensification of military activity in North Sinai. Terrorists have also conducted attacks in the Western Desert – the large, mostly isolated area west of greater Cairo and the Nile Valley.

Egyptian news and social media reported a number of terrorism-related incidents in 2020 and 2021. These included:

• In October 2020, an explosion inside a military facility killed or injured at least 14 Egyptian soldiers west of Sinai. • An IED killed an Egyptian soldier and four family members at their home in Iqtiya. • A car bomb killed one civilian and injured two others in al-Marih, southwest of Bir al-Abd, North Sinai. • An explosion killed seven Egyptian border guards west of Bir al-Abd, North Sinai. • In December 2020, ISIS claimed to have killed one person and injured three others after the detonation of an explosive-laden house in al-Mutla, Rafah. • In January 2021, suspected ISIS militants kidnapped seven workers from a poultry farm in Bir al- Abd. • Two Egyptian soldiers died and four others were injured after an attack on their vehicle south of Bir al-Abd. • In February 2021, an IED attack killed two Egyptian soldiers and injured two others in their vehicle south of Sheikh Zuweid. • In March 2021, an IED explosion killed two Egyptian children in Tufaha, south of Bir al-Abd.

Social media reported Egypt’s security forces thwarted 90 terrorist attacks in 2020.

While the incidents above do not confirm that extremist elements are targeting private-sector interests, the expansion of attacks targeting civilian interests raises concerns about wrong-place, wrong-time violence leading to collateral damage. To mitigate this, the Egyptian government maintains a heavy security presence at major tourist sites, especially the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh and the many temples and archaeological sites located in and around Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel. Political Violence and Civil Unrest Environment

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Cairo as being a HIGH-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

Elections/Political Stability

Recent elections in Cairo have been peaceful, with strong police presence at the polling stations.

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Protest & Demonstration Activity

Political protests are rare. Egypt’s demonstrations law prohibits gatherings of more than ten people without advance permission from the Interior Ministry. If protests do break out, they could result in clashes with police and security forces. In the past few years, the size and frequency of demonstrations have decreased markedly. In the past, demonstrations have led to violent clashes between police and protesters, resulting in deaths, injuries, and property damage. Peaceful demonstrators and bystanders may be subject to questioning, detention, arrest, and conviction for participating in or being in proximity of unauthorized demonstrations. While there may be periods when crowds appear celebratory or non- threatening, criminal acts could still occur under the anonymity a large crowd provides.

Authorities quashed previous unauthorized demonstrations in a relatively short time. It is illegal to photograph police stations, military barracks, and certain other sensitive public buildings, or their respective personnel; authorities enforce the law in the context of demonstrations.

For more information, review OSAC’s report, Surviving a Protest. Law Enforcement Concerns: Security Agencies

The Interior Ministry supervises law enforcement and internal security, including the Public Security Sector Police; the Central Security Force; the National Security Sector; and the Passports, Immigration, and Nationality Administration. The Public Security Sector Police are responsible for law enforcement nationwide. The Central Security Force protects infrastructure and is responsible for crowd control. The National Security Sector is responsible for internal security threats and counterterrorism along with other security services. The armed forces report to the minister of defense and are responsible for external defense, but they also have a mandate to assist police in protecting vital infrastructure during a state of emergency. The government granted military personnel full arrest authority in 2011, but they normally only use this authority during states of emergency and “periods of significant turmoil.” The country has been under an almost continuous state of emergency since 2017, when there were terrorist attacks on Coptic churches. Defense forces operate in North Sinai as part of a broader national counterterrorism operation with general detention authority. The Border Guard Forces, under the Defense Ministry, are responsible for border control. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces.

Police Response

Foreigners may experience varying levels of professionalism when dealing with the police. Police are generally responsive to visitors in need of assistance and initiate investigations based on reports of criminal activity. Emergency response times and the ability to conduct in-depth criminal investigations on petty crimes generally fall short of Western standards. While misdemeanor crimes may not receive the attention a visitor would expect, police tend to pursue felonies more assertively. Egyptian authorities take crime seriously and are proactive in helping where needed, but language barriers can sometimes hinder progress with reporting crimes in a timely manner. The Egyptian Interior Ministry claims to have resolved more cases in 2019 than the previous year and continues to make improvements. View the Egyptian MOI Facebook page for additional statistics related to crime and terrorism.

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Law Enforcement Concerns: Emergency Contact/Information

Egypt-wide emergency numbers are as follows:

• Police: 122 • Ambulance: 123 • Fire Brigade: 180 • Tourism Police: 126 • International Call Services: 120 • Inter-Government Call Services: 10 • Telephone Directory: 140, 141 • International Telephone Directory: 144 • Railway Police: 145 • Public Traffic Admin. (for highway accidents): 012111000 • General Security Services (criminal offenses): 115 Transportation Security

Road Safety

Driving in Egypt is extremely hazardous; vehicle accidents remain a significant safety concern. Intercity roads are generally in good condition. Unmarked surfaces, stray animals, sandstorms, fog, animal-pulled carts, and disabled vehicles without lights or reflectors are among the many hazards present on highways, especially after dark. To report highway accidents, call 012111000.

Driving Cairo’s busy streets can be extremely challenging for those used to driving in accordance with enforced rules and regulations. Even seasoned residents must use extreme care and situational awareness to navigate the hectic streets of the capital. Impatient drivers typically ignore traffic rules. Although the enforcement of traffic laws is generally lax and unpredictable, foreigners may be subject to extra scrutiny. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs could result in arrest or detainment. Expect vehicles without headlights at night; few if any road markings; vehicles traveling at high rates of speed; vehicles traveling the wrong direction on one-way streets, divided highways, and connecting ramps; drivers ignoring lane markings and squeezing vehicles in between lane markers, creating additional vehicle lanes; a high volume of pedestrians dodging traffic; and a variety of animals wandering the roadways.

Visitors intending to drive in Egypt should carefully consider other options, such as a ride-hailing cellular phone-based app, taxi, or hired driver. Drivers must take the utmost precaution and drive defensively. Be especially cautious during the rare winter rains, which can cause extremely slippery road surfaces and localized flooding; Egyptian drivers are not familiar with driving in wet conditions, making such periods particularly hazardous. Pedestrians should also exercise extreme caution, especially in high-volume/high- velocity streets like Cairo’s Corniche, which follows the eastern bank of the Nile River, and Alexandria’s Corniche along the Mediterranean.

Egypt’s borders are under military control; movement of non-military persons and vehicles is substantially restricted, and in some cases prohibited, within these areas. Travelers must obtain permission and a travel route from the Egyptian Military Intelligence and the Tourist Police Headquarters via a local or overseas travel agency to access Egypt's frontiers, including the borders with Libya, Sudan, Israel, and parts of the Sinai Peninsula off paved roads.

For detailed, country-specific road and vehicle safety information, read the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety.

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For more information, review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad.

Public Transportation Safety

Taxis and car-sharing services are a common form of transportation in large cities. U.S. Embassy employees may travel in taxis and on ride-sharing apps. Foreigners can be targets for higher taxi fares; drivers often claim their meter is broken. Some females have found it helpful to refrain from engaging in conversation, beyond basic pleasantries, with taxi drivers. Women should sit in the back seat of taxis for safety purposes.

U.S. government personnel may not use public buses, microbuses, trains, apps (such as Uber Bus), or Cairo’s metro system. Trains are a particularly unsafe means of transportation, with accidents that sometimes involve mass casualties. Overcrowded metro stations and trains can be a common area for opportunistic crimes (e.g., pickpocketing, sexual harassment).

U.S. government personnel may travel outside of greater Cairo north to Alexandria and North Coast beach resorts, as well as the western side of the Red Sea and south along the Nile river (note: travel more than 50 miles south of Cairo is generally accomplished by commercial air). Embassy policy also prohibits personal travel via privately-owned vehicle to any part of the Sinai Peninsula or the Western Desert. U.S. government personnel must limit road travel outside of greater Cairo or Alexandria to daylight hours.

For more information, review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights; and consider the European Union Air Safety List.

Aviation Concerns

In 2015, a Russian commercial jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Sharm El-Sheik International Airport (SSH), a popular tourist destination on the Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people on board. Although Egypt has not officially announced the findings of its investigation, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, publishing a photo of what it says is the improvised explosive device (IED) that brought the aircraft down. Since the incident, Egypt has made significant improvements to airport security. In 2021, social media posted Russia would resume flight itineraries to Egypt.

In 2019, the United Kingdom resumed direct flights to SSH after lifting its four-year ban. There is international acknowledgement of the significant security improvements at SSH, and the Egyptian authorities’ openness to improving security measures. International air carriers have enhanced security measures. At Cairo International Airport (CAI), large crowds waiting for arriving passengers gather outside Terminal 3 for EgyptAir, but no longer have access to the inside of the terminal. U.S. Embassy personnel typically arrange for an expeditor and/or trusted transportation company to pick them up inside the terminal. Taxis are available at the terminals at all airports, but signs warn travelers to beware of unauthorized chauffeurs.

Maritime Security

Egyptian Ministry of Defense provides security for all waterways and ports. Although the southern end of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are prime territory for instances of piracy, there is no indication of pirate targeting or potential terrorist activity along Egypt’s Red or Mediterranean Sea coasts, or in the Suez Canal. There have been no terrorist attacks within approximately 50km of the canal.

Consult with the Stable Seas Maritime Security Index for detailed information and ratings regarding rule of law, law enforcement, piracy, and other maritime security indicators.

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Personal Identity & Human Rights Concerns

Safety Concerns for Women Travelers

Women regularly report instances of sexual harassment. These incidents vary in severity, from lewd comments and gestures to more explicit indecent exposure, inappropriate physical contact, and sexual assault. Local and foreign women alike have reported sexual harassment and assault in taxis, on isolated streets, and while transiting crowded areas. Incidents can occur on streets, but have also occurred inside victims’ homes at the hands of maintenance or delivery workers. Western women are also likely to encounter different religious and cultural norms. Women should dress conservatively in public. At night, women and teenage girls should exercise additional caution and not travel alone. Women, especially those traveling alone, should exercise particular care in crowds, on public transportation, and in rural and isolated areas.

The Embassy continues to receive reports of U.S. women subject to domestic violence, sexual harassment, verbal abuse, and rape. The Consular Section encourages women who seek assistance to take legal action against perpetrators to bring them to justice. Egypt’s National Council for Women’s Ombudsman’s Office may aid victimized women in Egypt. There is also a domestic violence hotline the Embassy’s American Citizens’ Services Unit can provide to victims. Women victimized overseas may be entitled to receive compensation for counseling and/or other services such as relocating back to the United States.

Consider composite scores given to Egypt by the UN Development Program (UNDP) in its Gender Development Index, measuring the difference between average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development, and Gender Inequality Index, measuring inequality in achievement in reproductive health, empowerment, and the labor market. For more information on gender statistics in Egypt, see the World Bank's Gender Data Portal.

Review the State Department’s webpage for female travelers.

Safety Concerns for LGBTI+ Travelers

The government has the authority to deport or bar entry to the country of LGBTI+ foreigners. There are reports that authorities use social media, dating websites, and cell phone apps to entrap persons they suspect of being gay or transgender, a method LGBTI+ advocates describe as especially effective as LGBTI-friendly public spaces have largely closed in recent years.

LGBTI+ individuals face significant social stigma and discrimination in Egypt. Egyptian law does not explicitly criminalize same-sex sexual activity, but LGBTI+ persons and advocacy groups have reported harassment, intimidation, arrests, and other forms of abuse, including by police. Reported harassment by police has included physical assault and forced payment of bribes to provide information concerning other LGBTI+ individuals or to avoid arrest. The law allows police to arrest LGBTI+ persons on charges such as “debauchery,” “prostitution,” and “violating the teachings of religion,” and it provides for prison sentences of up to ten years. According to a local rights group, there have been more than 250 reports of such arrests since 2013. Authorities, including the Forensic Medical Authority, conduct forced anal examinations. The law allows for conducting forced anal exams in cases of “debauchery.” According to a LGBTI rights organization 2019 annual report, authorities arrested 92 LGBTI+ individuals in 2019 and conducted forced anal exams on seven persons.

Antidiscrimination laws do not protect LGBTI+ individuals. Legal discrimination and social stigma impede LGBTI+ persons from organizing or advocating publicly in defense of their rights. There are no government efforts to address potential discrimination. Intimidation and the risk of arrest greatly restricted open reporting and contributed to self-censorship.

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Review OSAC’s report, Supporting LGBT+ Employee Security Abroad, and the State Department’s webpage on security for LGBTI travelers.

Safety Concerns for Travelers with Disabilities

While in Egypt, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from in the United States. Businesses and institutions in Egypt generally do not make special accommodations for persons with disabilities, and Egyptian authorities do not enforce laws mandating access to transportation, communication, and public buildings by persons with disabilities. Pedestrian sidewalks and walkways are limited, uneven, high, and sometimes in use by cars and motorcycles. Accommodations for elderly individuals or persons with disabilities are unavailable on public transportation. Crosswalks exist, but motorists have the right of way; pedestrians should exercise extreme caution.

Safety Concerns for Travelers Based on Race, Religion, & Ethnicity

Some attacks on the religious community seek to increase tensions between religious groups and undermine perceptions that the Egyptian government can protect these communities. The law prohibits discrimination on any grounds. Nevertheless, dark-skinned Egyptians and sub-Saharan Africans face discrimination and harassment, as do Nubians from Upper Egypt.

In 2017, ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack on a mosque during a Friday sermon in the Sinai Peninsula, setting off bombs, opening fire on worshippers, and killing more than 230 people and wounding 130 others in the deadliest ISIS attack on Egyptian civilians. This incident sparked the planning for Sinai-2018 Egyptian military operations on the Sinai Peninsula, which continued through 2019.

Actions against churches that do not have permits to operate within Egypt have been reported in areas outside of Cairo, but continue to decline from incidents in previous years. In April 2019, villagers attacked the church of St. Karaas claiming the association of the church did not obtain an official license. The attack wounded two church priests. Egyptian Central Security Forces (CSF) reinforcements deployed to contain the situation. In 2019, the Egyptian government legalized 1,412 previously unlicensed churches and service buildings.

Given previous attacks against religious sites and churches in Egypt, the Egyptian government enhances security around most religious sites during religious holidays.

Review the latest U.S Department of State Report on International Religious Freedom for country-specific information.

Review OSAC’s report, Freedom to Practice, and the State Department’s webpage on security for faith- based travelers.

Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment

Sporadic sectarian violence has not targeted foreigners.

Concerns involving the Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption &/or Transparency

The U.S. Embassy may have a limited ability to provide consular services to dual U.S.-Egyptian citizens. Egyptian law does not recognize dual citizenship. Travelers should be cognizant of this prior to travel to Egypt.

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The Egyptian legal system is different from that in the United States, with significantly different standards of evidence and due process. Egyptian police and security forces do not require probable cause to stop, question, and detain individuals. Failure to carry proper identification, such as a passport, may result in detention and questioning. Police arrest suspects when there is evidence to suggest one has committed a felony or misdemeanor. Police may detain anyone without affording access to immediate legal counsel during the investigative stage of a criminal case. Punishments often are harsher in Egypt than they are in the United States for comparable crimes. Upon arrest for any reason, make every effort to contact the U.S. Embassy, or ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. Although protocol requires police services to notify the Embassy in the event of an arrest of a U.S. citizen, this may not always be the case depending on the time, place, and circumstances surrounding the arrest. Egyptian law considers dual nationals to be Egyptian citizens; Egyptian authorities do not automatically notify the U.S. Embassy in these cases. Family members, friends, and/or traveling companions may notify the Embassy if the arrested U.S. citizen is unable to do so.

The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but the government does not consistently implement the law effectively, and officials sometimes engage in corrupt practices with impunity.

The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index ranks Egypt 117 out of 180 worldwide, where 1 means most transparent.

Communication Issues

The Egyptian Constitution provides for freedom of expression, including for the press, but includes a clause noting this freedom “may be subject to limited censorship in times of war or public mobilization.” Since the Government of Egypt has declared near continuous states of emergency over the past few years, it has not always respected these rights. On February 16, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation issued executive regulations for the media law ratified in 2018. Among the regulations, newspapers now must print their issues in Egypt at licensed printing houses registered with the council; news websites must host their servers in Egypt; newspapers must submit 20 copies of each printed issue to the council; and news websites and television outlets must keep copies of all published or broadcast material online for one year and submit a copy of their published or broadcast material to the council every month. The regulations also prohibit any recording, filming, or interviews in public places with the intention of broadcasting them on a media outlet without a permit issued by the council.

Independent media express a variety of views but with significant restrictions. The constitution, penal code, and the media and publications law govern media issues. The government regulates the licensing of newspapers and controls the printing and distribution of a majority of newspapers, including private newspapers. The law does not impose restrictions on newspaper ownership.

The constitution prohibits the government from “arbitrarily” interrupting, disconnecting, or depriving citizens seeking to use all forms of internet communications.

The law obliges internet service providers and mobile operators to afford the government access to customer databases, allowing security forces to obtain information regarding activities of specific customers, which observers noted could lead to lack of online anonymity.

Telecommunications services and internet service providers are regulated by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority under the 2003 Telecommunication Regulation Law. The law does not guarantee the independence of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. The government centralized the internet infrastructure and fiber-optic cables, allowing considerable state control over internet access, including restricting and disrupting user access and censoring online content. The government attempts to disrupt the communications of terrorist groups operating in Sinai by cutting mobile services, internet, and sometimes landlines. Law enforcement agencies restrict or disrupt individual access to the internet, and the government monitors social media accounts and internet use,

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relying on a law that only allows targeted interception of communications under judicial oversight for a limited period and does not permit indiscriminate mass surveillance.

The law considers websites and social media accounts with at least 5,000 subscribers as media outlets, requires them to pay a licensing fee of EGP 50,000 ($3,030), and grants the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (Supreme Council) broad discretion to block their content.

Citizens express their views on a wide range of political and social topics. Nonetheless, the government investigates and prosecutes critics for alleged incitement of violence, insults to religion, insults to public figures and institutions such as the judiciary and the military, or violation of public morals. The law provides a broad definition of terrorism, to include “any act harming national unity or social peace.” Human rights observers express concern that authorities use the ambiguous definition to stifle nonviolent speech and nonviolent opposition activity.

The Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index ranks Egypt 166 out of 180 worldwide, where 1 means most freedom. The Freedom House Freedom on the Net report rates Egypt’s internet freedom as Not Free, and its Freedom in the World report rates Egypt’s freedom of speech as Not Free.

Review OSAC’s report, Lèse Majesté: Watching what you say (and type) abroad. Health Concerns

Emergency Health Services

The medical emergency line in Egypt is 123. Medical care generally falls short of U.S. standards, but there are many Western-trained medical professionals. While medical facilities are adequate for non- emergency matters, particularly in areas tourists visit frequently, emergency and intensive care facilities are limited. Most Nile cruise boats do not have a ship's doctor, but some employ a medical practitioner of uncertain qualifications. Hospital facilities in Luxor, Aswan, and Sharm El-Sheikh are not outfitted to U.S. standards, and those at most other ports of call are inadequate. Although availability of ambulances is improving, getting them through Cairo traffic can be very challenging.

Beaches on the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts are generally unpolluted. However, swimming in the Nile or its canals, walking barefoot in stagnant water, or drinking untreated water puts you at risk of exposure to bacterial and other infections and the parasitic disease schistosomiasis (bilharzia).

It is generally safe to eat freshly prepared cooked food in hotels, on Nile cruise boats, and in mainstream restaurants. When selecting a restaurant, select a clean and reputable place, eat only freshly prepared, cooked foods, and avoid all uncooked food including raw fruits and vegetables.

Mosquito-borne diseases, while rare, do occur in Egypt. Most Red Sea resorts have established mosquito control programs.

Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy website. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Review the State Department’s webpage on health insurance overseas.

The U.S. Department of State has included a Health “H” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Egypt, indicating that Health risks, including current disease outbreaks or a crisis that temporarily disrupts a country’s medical infrastructure, are present. Review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) country-specific Travel Health Notices for current health issues that impact traveler health, like disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, and natural disasters.

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See OSAC’s Guide to U.S. Government-Assisted Evacuations; review OSAC’s reports, The Healthy Way, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad; and visit the State Department’s webpage on Your Health Abroad for more information.

Vaccinations

Review the CDC Travelers’ Health site for country-specific vaccine recommendations.

Issues Traveling with Medications

Review OSAC’s report, Traveling with Medication.

Water Quality

Tap water outside of major cities may not be potable. Tourists often drink bottled water or water that has been boiled and filtered. Well-known brands of bottled beverages are generally safe if the seal is intact.

Review OSAC’s report, I’m Drinking What in My Water?

Environmental Hazards

Authorities spray pesticides in some areas of Cairo, often with limited or no notification.

Egypt is a geologically active region; seismic activity occurs on occasion. Although earthquakes are rare, damage can be severe, especially to older buildings, due to lax building codes and inferior construction. The last earthquake to result in major damage was in 1996.

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Alexandria, Cairo, and other urban areas of Egypt as having air pollution levels three or more times higher than the most polluted areas in the United States. Air pollution is most severe during the winter, when weather patterns prevent vehicle and factory emissions and pollutants from burning agricultural waste from dispersing into the atmosphere.

Insufficient solid waste collection and disposal services are causing ecological and public health problems, including accumulated garbage and contamination of water supplies in some areas. Cybersecurity Concerns

Exercise caution when using social networking sites and accessing personal email accounts. VPNs are also highly recommended on electronic devices.

The U.S. Embassy receives frequent reports of online financial scams, often involving a fraudulent romantic partner requesting money for hospital bills or legal expenses to depart Egypt. Scams are often initiated through Internet postings/profiles or by unsolicited emails and letters. Scammers almost always pose as U.S. citizens who have no one else to turn to for help. Be skeptical about sending money to or spending money on anyone known only through online contact.

Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling Abroad with Mobile Devices, and Guide for Overseas Satellite Phone Usage. Counterintelligence Issues

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Other Security Concerns

Landmines

Unexploded ordnance (UXO) is located on battlefields along the Mediterranean coast west of Alexandria, in the Eastern Desert between Cairo and the Suez Canal, on the Sinai Peninsula, and in the Suez Canal zone from World War II and the Egyptian-Israeli wars.

Import/Export Restrictions

Importation of all types of drones, including small civilian drones used for personal or tourist purposes is strictly prohibited. Potential penalties for violating are harsh; a recently passed law authorizes the death penalty for using a drone in support of terrorist activity.

Egyptian law prohibits the unauthorized removal of antiquities (including historic coins, ceramics, and architectural elements) from archaeological sites and other sources in Egypt. Egyptian law also forbids the intentional damaging of antiquities, such as inscribing or painting on them or attaching advertisements. The trade, sale, or export in antiquities is also heavily restricted and regulated. Travelers found to be looting or damaging archaeological sites, buying antiquities, or smuggling antiquities out of Egypt may be prosecuted. Penalties include fines and/or imprisonment.

Attempting to enter or depart Egypt with any instruments of currency in the sum of more than $10,000 could result in the confiscation of any money over $10,000 and other penalties.

A country-specific listing of items goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.

Photography

It is illegal to photograph police stations, military barracks, and certain other sensitive public buildings, or their respective personnel; authorities enforce the law in the context of demonstrations.

Review OSAC’s report, Picture This: Dos and Don’ts for Photography.

ID Requirements

Egyptian police and security forces do not require probable cause in order to stop, question, and detain individuals. Failure to carry proper identification, such as a passport, may result in detention and questioning.

Critical Infrastructure Concerns

The Egyptian government increased spending on road and bridge projects, which helped reduce traffic- related fatalities in 2020. Deaths from road accidents dropped dramatically, by 44%, in 2019-2020, compared to 5% in 2018-2019. Spending on infrastructure increased 100% from EGP 14 billion in 2018 to EGP 28 billion in 2020. OSAC Country Chapters

The Embassy hosts OSAC Country Chapter meetings on a quarterly basis and ad-hoc meetings as necessary. Contact OSAC’s Middle East & North Africa team with any questions.

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Embassy Contact Information

U.S. Embassy: 5 Tawfik Diab Street Garden City, Cairo

Embassy Operator: +20 2-2797-2301

Emergency calls after normal business hours: +20 2-2797-3300

Hours of operation: 0830-1700 Sunday-Thursday

State Department Emergency Line: +1-202-501-4444

American Citizen Services Section: [email protected] Trustworthy News Sources

• Egypttoday.com • Dailynewsegypt.com Other Helpful Info

• State Department Country Information • OSAC Risk Matrix • OSAC Travelers Toolkit • State Department Travelers Checklist • Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) • How OSAC Analysts Can Benefit Your Global Security Operations

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