CAIRO, Egypt – Only a year ago, the Cairo suburb of October 6 City was a collection of half-empty apartment buildings and abandoned shops. Now, at the center of what has been nicknamed “Little Syria,” hundreds of Syrians who fled the civil war in their country sit at outdoor cafes, smoking narguile pipes and discussing the future of their country.
Newly-opened shops in adjacent streets sport names like “Syria Mobile” or “Damascus Pizza.” The green, white and black Free Syria flag hovers on every corner.
Over the past year this quiet suburb, 32 kilometers west of central Cairo, has witnessed a tremendous influx of Syrian refugees. With an estimated population of 500,000, it now hosts more than 50,000 Syrian nationals, most agreeing that Egypt is the right choice for other refugees fleeing the violence in their country.
Maqdi el-Hafez, 29, opened a phone shop in the heart of the neighborhood eight months ago. He claimed it was one of the first shops to open in the street.
“Egypt was the only safe solution for me and my family. The rich and corrupt can afford to flee to the Gulf or Europe, while the poorest have to go live in awful conditions in camps in Turkey, Lebanon or Jordan. Egypt is the way out for the middle class,” he advised.
“Egypt is not very stable, and the situation is not perfect, but there is nowhere else to go for us. Here, my children can go to school, and by opening the shop I gave some work to my relatives,” said Hafez, who left after enduring a two-month stint in prison, and after his shop in the southern city of Daraa was bombed and looted.
“The situation here is okay, because people welcome us and it is easy to get residence. But it's hard to work,” explained Majd, who works as a restaurant cashier and comes from the city of Homs.
“I don't have enough money to open a shop. I think I will try and go to Sudan soon.” he said.
Pointing at the street and its lively crowd, he said that at least here he felt somewhat at home, and that he was safe. “There is a lot of solidarity among us, so we all survive,” he explained.
Among the restaurants and other shops, the “Hitler” boutique in the Cairo suburb stands out for its unusual name. The shop sells hip shoes and wallets, its walls adorned with large posters of the infamous Nazi leader. The owner, Khaled, explained that he was an admired of the Fuhrer.
Not far from Little Syria, a center for Syrian refugees opened in December last year, a branch of the Tadamon Center, an organization funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which assists refugees in Egypt.
It provides activities such as workshops for women or psychological support for children affected by the war, but mostly helps the incoming Syrians settle, find accommodation and seek jobs.
Sharif, 22, who volunteers at the center, studies in England, and cannot return to his country. He explained that the Syrians in Egypt chose this suburb because it is quieter than central Cairo, and that rents are cheaper. Here, he said, they can live like a community, and develop the neighborhood.
“The Egyptians have a good relationship with Syria and are very welcoming. No one even calls them refugees and there is virtually no harassment,” he said, adding that the only problem for refugees now was rising rents due to growing demand.
Other positive points for refugees are that Egyptian visas are easy to obtain, and children can attend Egyptian public schools. Every Syrian gets a three-month visa upon arrival at the airport, which can be easily extended, or turned into a residency permit with the help of the UNHCR or by having children enrolled in school.
Low-level professions do not require work permits -- or at least Egyptian authorities are flexible about the issue. More qualified professionals, such as lawyer or doctors, face greater difficulties, because their qualifications are not readily recognized.
The main issue, Sharif claimed, is money: “Many Syrians came here thinking it was only temporary, but as the war worsens they realize they may be here for a long time and need a steady source of income. Those who can open a shop, those who can't... well, that's who we focus on helping.”
