The U.S. Department of State upgrades its travel advisory for U.S. citizens to the risks of traveling to Egypt due to the continuous political strife. The previous Travel Alert was issued on February 21, 2014 – the present alert issued on March 18 supersedes the previous alert and will expire on June 18, 2014.
Based on an assessment of the security situation in Egypt, the Department of State lifted the ordered departure status for U.S. Embassy personnel on November 6, 2013. The State Department lifted ordered departure status for U.S. Consulate General Alexandria on December 16, 2013. However, Consulate General personnel are based out of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo while required facility security upgrades are made.
The political unrest is gaining intensity since July 2013 – after the government changed. Demonstrations have on numerous occasions resulted in violent clashes between security forces and protesters and between protesters supporting rival factions, some of which have resulted in deaths and injuries to those involved and in property damage. Participants have generally thrown rocks, and Molotov cocktails, with security forces responding with tear gas. However, police on occasion have used live ammunition as a crowd control measure and in response to live ammunition used by demonstrators against police.
Gender-based violence in and around protest areas, where women have been the targets of sexual assault, poses an ongoing concern. There has been a recent and notable increase in the use of explosive devices to target police or other government institutions or individuals, which have resulted in casualties and damage to infrastructure. Additionally, police officers have frequently been the targets of drive-by shootings that endanger bystanders as well.
The U.S. Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid all demonstrations in Egypt. Because of the proximity of the U.S. Embassy to Tahrir Square and other demonstration locations in Cairo, the U.S. Embassy has sometimes been closed to the public on short notice due to violent protests.
