Emergency Assistance for Irish Citizens in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Sudan and Syria

This section contains advice and information for Irish citizens who encounter difficulties while in the region.

General

If you need emergency assistance from the Embassy, then contact us immediately. Our telephone number is: + 20 2 27358264. If you telephone at the weekend, you will be asked to leave a message on the answering machine. The answering machine is monitored regularly, and the Duty Officer at the Embassy will contact you as soon as possible. When you leave a message, remember to state your name, the nature of the problem, where you are now, and the details of how the Duty Officer can contact you (eg leave your mobile phone number, or the phone number of the hotel/hostel where you are staying). If necessary, contact the police also.

Loss/Theft of Passport

If your passport is lost or stolen, you should firstly report the loss or theft to the nearest police station (or tourist police station) as soon as possible after the event.  The police should then issue you with a report of loss/theft confirming that you have made the report.  You will be required to present this when applying for a replacement travel document.

Secondly, contact the Embassy or nearest Honorary Consulate. A police report is accepted by some airlines in lieu of a passport, but always check with your airline before going to the airport. If your airline will not accept the police statement, the Embassy or the Honorary Consulate can issue you with an Emergency Travel Certificate.   You will need to present the police report and two passport photographs to apply for an Emergency Travel Certificate.  There is a fee of €6 for this service.

Ill Health

If you fall seriously ill, while in Egypt, the Embassy can provide you with a list of hospitals and doctors.

Crime

If you are the victim of a crime, please contact the nearest police station as soon as possible and make a report.  You should ask for a copy of the report. If you wish, you may also contact the Embassy or nearest Honorary Consulate, who can facilitate your communication with the police forces.

Arrest

If you are arrested, you may ask the authorities to inform the Embassy or Honorary Consulate of your arrest.

The Embassy can:

• Visit you or arrange for you to be visited by an Embassy official
• If necessary, provide you with a list of local English-speaking lawyers
• Advise you about the prison system and about your entitlement to visits, mail and other facilities
• Bring details of any medical condition you may have to the attention of prison officials
• Pursue with the prison authorities on your behalf any complaints about ill-treatment or discrimination
• Pass messages to and from your family

However, the Embassy cannot:

• Secure better treatment for Irish citizens than local or other nationals receive
• Give or pay for legal advice
• Interfere with or influence the proper operation and application of the local judicial system
• Provide any financial assistance while you are in prison
• Pay bail bonds or fines