CAIRO — Syrian refugees in Cairo are bidding farewell before setting off for the north coast — and beyond, to southern Europe — in greater numbers. At baladi bars serving warm, tucked-away beers, or gatherings in homes around the city, more and more Syrians in Cairo are getting ready to leave.

Refugee and rights organizations Al-Monitor spoke with say they are anticipating a wave of refugee migrations across the Mediterranean in the second half of 2014, which many fear could see a repeat of events last year — deaths at sea, mass detentions and top-down incitement against Syrians living in Egypt.

Last week, Hala, who requested to have her name changed for this report, celebrated her birthday the same night she packed her belongings for Alexandria. "Life here is … hard," she told Al-Monitor, with an understated sigh, before leaving with a dozen other Syrians the next day. 

Ayman fled Syria over two years ago. His town, in the Damascus countryside, was razed by the Syrian army. He was later arrested and tortured for months. He now lives in a small flat in October 6th City, with his wife and 1-year-old son, scraping together money by repairing computers for a local IT company.