Waleed el-Degwy, an Egyptian plumber, couldn’t earn enough in Egypt’s Nile Delta region due to the country’s declining economy. He risked a treacherous journey to Europe via Libya to find better opportunities, eventually boarding an overloaded trawler. Sadly, just off the Greek coast in June, that vessel sank, causing the loss of hundreds of lives, including many Egyptians like el-Degwy.
His father, Mohamed el-Degwy, from Mit Suhayl, shared the desperation of the young men in their village. Many have been compelled to seek work abroad because of inflation, a weakening currency, growing unemployment, and rising daily expenses.
Italian interior ministry data reveals a significant increase in Egyptians arriving in Italy. Over 8,000 have declared their Egyptian nationality upon arrival this year, a stark rise from 1,264 in 2020. Concurrently, asylum requests by Egyptians have surged.
According to a report by Reuters, the increase correlates with Egypt’s economic downturn. The pandemic severely impacted the country’s tourism sector, while the Ukraine conflict deterred investors. Overspending on massive state projects has also weighed heavily on the nation’s finances.
While Egypt has curtailed migrant boat departures since 2016, alternative routes through Libya have emerged. Libya’s decade-long conflict following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 has made it a less attractive work destination but has also facilitated people smuggling due to political instability.
Adel Ghannam, a carpenter from Mit Suhayl, recounts how his younger brother took a similar ill-fated journey, paying $4,540 for a chance at a better life.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi asserts that while Egypt strives to curb this migrant flow, the challenge is enormous, especially with Egypt hosting over 300,000 refugees from Sudan.
Naela Gabr, who heads Egypt’s body for combating illegal migration, noted that regional economic challenges push more people towards these perilous trips. Meanwhile, the European Union has funded border control efforts in Egypt, anticipating an increase in migration driven by Egypt’s economic conditions and climate challenges.
A Nile Delta resident, Hala lost her 19-year-old brother, Mostafa Abdel Salam, in one such journey. “People are slowly dying,” she lamented, emphasizing the dire situation pushing many to risk everything for a chance at a better life.
