Palestinians from Syria in Egypt: Increased Study Residence Fees a New Blow to Refugees

Working Group | Egypt  
The decision by Egyptian authorities to increase study residence fees by over 200% has sparked outrage and discontent among refugees in general, and particularly among Palestinians coming from Syria. They consider it a new blow to refugees due to its negative consequences on their lives and the future of their children.  
The decision, which was implemented without prior warning, stipulates an increase in fees from 2,100 Egyptian pounds to 7,000 pounds, approximately 140 dollars per individual. This is part of a series of decisions tightening the noose on Palestinians from Syria, who are already suffering from difficult living and legal conditions.  
The measures targeting refugees in Egypt exacerbate their living conditions. One refugee mentioned that he works in freelance jobs earning between 200 to 250 Egyptian pounds a day. How is a family with 5 student members supposed to pay for residence and school costs , and more, in addition to home rent and living costs  
Palestinians from Syria in Egypt lack legal protection, and Egyptian authorities deny them registration with the UN Refugee Agency, treating them as tourists or arrivals, while Syrians, Sudanese, and others are treated as refugees who are entitled to obtain asylum cards, granting them legal, living, educational, and other facilities.  
Egyptian authorities provide educational services to Syrian refugees but exclude Palestinians holding Syrian travel documents, due to the lack of valid residence permits, as the Egyptian Ministry of Education requires a valid residence. Only a small number of them have obtained residence permits.  
Refugees are demanding that the Egyptian authorities reverse their decision and take measures to facilitate the difficult lives of refugees. They stressed the need for UNRWA to fulfill its role in supporting Palestinians and providing them with legal protection in cooperation with the Palestinian Embassy in Egypt.  
Unofficial statistics conducted by the Working Group for Palestinians in Syria reveal that 55% of the total number of Palestinian children from Syria in Egypt are out of school and outside the educational system, while the percentage of children and youth in private schools is around 10% at most.”