Calgary man caught in Egyptian chaos
Posted Feb 1, 2011 8:24 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Calgary man is waiting things out in Alexandria, after his vacation was disrupted by massive nationwide protests in Egypt.
Azmy Aboulazm was visiting family in the Mediterranean city when demonstrations broke out, calling for President Hosni Mubarak to step down.
Tens of thousands of Egyptians say it’s time for freedom and democracy and are calling for an end to Mubarak’s 30-year autocratic rule.
Aboulazm tells 660News things were relatively quiet Tuesday near his family’s home.
With no sign of a police force in place, relatives and neighbours have set up committees to protect themselves from looters.
A military tank sits not far from his home and he estimates around 20,000 people have ignored curfew and continue to protest in downtown Alexandria.
There is a similar scene in central Cairo, where hundreds of thousands have descended on Tahrir Square as part of a massive march on the presidential palace.
Aboulazm says at this point, he’s not concerned about safety as much as shortages of food and gasoline.
“Most people now walk, because they don’t want to use their cars, they don’t have gas,” he says. “But once food supplies dry up, that will be serious.”
He says as far as he knows the two major airports in Alexandria are closed, but Canadian government officials have told his wife in Calgary they are still trying to arrange flights.
“If there’s a flight, I’ll go, if there’s no flight, I’ll stay,” says Aboulazm. “But so far I’m safe; I’ve made myself safe for sure and also my relatives. I’ve helped them to survive the crisis.”
His wife Naglaa Aly in Calgary tells 660News she’s just hoping now for his safe return.
“I’m just so worried about him, I want him back and I’m just trying to find a way for him to get back to the airport so he can get back here,” says Aly.
There’s no word yet on if or when Canadian flights will be able to access Alexandria.
