Cairo: The disruption of flights between Kuwait and Egypt has put many Kuwaiti at Egyptian universities in a dilemma, days before their scheduled exams.
Earlier this week, Kuwait announced the suspension of flights from 31 countries, adding to Egypt, until it realizes additional for fitness reasons, which led the Egyptian government to stop the air between the two countries.
Several Kuwaiti scholars said sudden movements had caused them difficulties, as they planned to travel to Egypt for exams.
Many academics told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Qabas that the resolution had interrupted their plans to travel to Egypt for their exams, which were due to begin in mid-August. They still have no option to fly on transit flights that take many hours or to request a deferment of the exam.
“The resolution to avoid flights hurts academics because of their schedule because it arrived a few days before final exams began at Egyptian universities,” said Ahmed Al Shamiri, director of the Kuwaiti National Union of Students in Egypt. “Egypt has not banned access by the Kuwaiti. It’s only stopped direct flights. Students can in transit, which is not a means of family transportation for Kuwaiti academics,” he told Al Qabas.
According to him, large contacts are being made through official Kuwaiti agencies, adding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Kuwaiti Embassy in Cairo, in order to provide a solution to the problems of students.
“The scenario for academics wishing to go to Egypt is unclear,” said Nasser Al Uteibi, secretary general of Kuwait’s National Student Union. “Your fate remains doubtful until an applicable resolution is taken.
He added that some academics are expected to begin practical testing at medical schools on August 8, while graduate exams should be conducted in two weeks.
On Saturday, Kuwait’s Directorate-General for Civil Aviation announced a ban on travellers from 31 “high-risk” countries on instructions from the Kuwaiti authorities.
These countries come with India, Pakistan, Egypt and the Philippines, which have giant communities in Kuwait.
Other countries come with Iran, China, Bangladesh, Brazil, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Peru, Moldova, Singapore, Hong Kong, Panama, Chile and the Dominican Republic. The ban, which came into force immediately, was announced hours after Kuwait International Airport partially reopened for advertising flights after a break of approximately five months.
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