WATANI International
17 March 2011
Egyptians held a vigil on Thursday in front of Japan’s embassy in Cairo to express moral and humane solidarity with the Japanese people in the face of the debilitating natural disaster Japan has been undergoing.
Taking part in the vigil, which was the brainchild of Zain al-Sheikh, former tourist counselor at the Egyptian Embassy in Tokyo and previous member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, were representatives of Egyptian institutions and NGOs, as well as members of the public. They carried banners bearing words of condolence and sympathy.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been concerned for the safety of Egyptians in Japan, who number some 1500, including 500 students.
Mohamed Abdel-Hakam, deputy to the Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs, called upon Egyptians in Japan to promptly head to the west coast, to the town of Osaka and Kansai airport, to be as far as possible from the source of nuclear radiation on the north and east coast of Japan.
He told reporters that eight Egyptian students studying at the University of Tohoku near Sundai, are safe and sound, together with their families.
Mr Hakam said that the Egyptian embassy in Tokyo received no report that any Egyptian in Japan has met any harm. The national carrier EgyptAir is conducting flights from Kansai airport to airlift Egyptians back home.