British nationals and other foreigners who were evacuated from Gaza are facing a time-sensitive challenge in Egypt, as they only have 72 hours to stay in the country before they are required to leave.
The evacuees arrived in Egypt through the Rafah Crossing, which was subsequently closed over the weekend. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working to provide information and assistance to the British nationals affected.
Among the evacuees is a pregnant British woman, Yosra Alshanti, who is now in Cairo with her husband Ibrahim, a non-British citizen. They are concerned about the possibility of overstaying due to the 72-hour limit, as they need to secure a Family Visa for Ibrahim to travel to the UK.
Typically, this process can take up to six months, but the FCDO and Home Office are attempting to expedite the process for those evacuated from Gaza.
However, it is unclear how long the fast-tracked visas will take. Overstaying in Egypt could result in fines, adding to the stress for the evacuees, including Yosra, who has already endured weeks of sheltering in Gaza under difficult conditions.