Egypt largest recipient of fleeing Sudanese: UNHCR

CAIRO – 10 November 2024: The UNHCR released a report earlier this week highlighting that Egypt had become the largest host of Sudanese who "sought international protection" since the outbreak of war in mid-April 2023.

The organization indicated that the figure, which is 1.2 million, is based on the data of the Egyptian government.

"The magnitude of this humanitarian crisis has placed immense pressure on Egypt’s resources and infrastructure. Despite the Egyptian government’s generosity and commitment to providing international protection, its capacities are now significantly overstretched," the UNHCR pointed out.

“We are calling on the international community to urgently support Egypt in this humanitarian effort,” Hanan Hamdan, UNHCR Representative to the Government of Egypt and to the League of Arab States said. “It is imperative that the responsibility for providing humanitarian and development aid is shared globally. The burden on Egypt is unsustainable and requires immediate and substantial international assistance to ensure the protection and well-being of those affected by the conflict.”

The organization assed that, "in addition to humanitarian and development assistance, there is an urgent need for durable solutions. Expanding resettlement and complementary pathways is essential to provide refugees with long-term stability and integration opportunities in third countries. This will not only alleviate the pressure on Egypt but also ensure that refugees have access to education, employment, and the chance to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope."

"The Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan 2024 has received $1.52 billion in funding, which is 56.3% of the required $2.7 billion," the statement showcased, noting that "19 months into the conflict in Sudan, thousands continue to flee daily."  

In a statement released in September, the organization indicated that the number of Sudanese refugees registered with the UNHCR Egypt had jumped eightfold – since April 2023 - to record 482,000 (62 percent of the total number of registered refugees in Egypt). It also estimated that the submission of registration requests would continue in the following months because of the persistence of instability in Sudan, and absence of a peace horizon in the near future.