International assistance not compatible with Egypt's efforts on migration governance: FM

CAIRO – 22 April 2024: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry stressed Monday to IOM Director General Amy Pope the importance of setting the organization's priorities based on consultations with developing countries that carry a huge burden to achieve the governance of migration.

Minister Shokry showcased that Egypt adopted a comprehensive approach to migration governance that is not limited to the security side but also addresses the root causes behind illegal migration.

In that framework, the Egyptian minister commended the current cooperation with the organization on reinforcing legal pathways of migration, fulfilling the need for labor in certain markets, and preserving the interests of the origin and destination countries as well as the migrant.

The minister underscored that Egypt was facing increasing inflow of migrants who were fleeing conflicts, economic downturn, and climate change impact. He added that, on the other hand, the country was not receiving international assistance compatible with the costs it was paying to provide decent life to those migrants, especially that their arrival coincided with tough economic conditions.

Accordingly, Minister Shokry demanded that the IOM fulfill its duty pertinent to securing the necessary support to Egypt on the front of migration governance.

On her side, Pope, who is holding a visit to Egypt in April 21-23, lauded the bilateral cooperation on climate change mitigation and adaptation. In that context, the IOM director general and the Egyptian foreign minister discussed ways of activating the Loss and Damage Fund created during COP 27 hosted by Egypt in 2022 as it would play a role in reducing migration, especially from Africa.

Pope and Shokry equally conferred over the situation in Gaza Strip and the staggering need for humanitarian aid and safe zones for the displaced. As for the Sudanese civil war, the IOM director general expressed appreciation for Egypt for receiving large number of the displaced as well as the organization's readiness to back the country's capabilities to provide care for them in collaboration with social solidarity and healthcare.  

The UN official said that the organization was working on providing more care to the migration issue in Sudan in fear that it would turn into a forgotten crisis, adding that there were 800 UN workers in Sudan and South Sudan in the meantime.