Safety in Egypt


Newly arriving expats are often needlessly concerned about crime in Egypt, which enjoys a low rate of serious crime. While robberies and assaults are uncommon, expats stick out as foreigners with money and are subsequently targets of petty theft such as pickpocketing, purse snatching and endless soliciting. Unaccompanied women can also be the target of verbal harassment although in general they will not be physically assaulted. There have been increasing cases of gropings in crowded areas.

View over Cairo
Terrorism is also a large concern of emigrating expats as explosions in 2004, 2005 and 2006 killed scores of Egyptians and some foreigners. Foreigners were not the targets of any of the attacks. There was a kidnapping for ransom of foreigners in 2008 near the border area with Sudan, which was an isolated incident and the area should be avoided. Expats should not be overly cautious about violence and terrorism while living in Egypt or let it affect reasons to come or not.
 
Much more of a realistic concern is safety issues regarding food. Heavy and dangerous pesticides are often used on fruits and vegetables which should be washed thoroughly. Tap water shouldn't be used for cooking or drinking. That said, cooked food in restaurants is usually fine and a few bouts of diarrhoea are common before the body adjusts to Egyptian food.

Discussion of safety in Egypt: www.wordtravels.com
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