UK to pump LE75m projects in Egypt to curb illegal migration

CAIRO – 17 October 2017: The British government will be implementing LE75 million regional projects in Egypt in 2018 to support vulnerable migrants and refugees, a Tuesday statement by the British Embassy in Cairo said.

The decision was announced by British Deputy Head of Mission Helen Winterton as he was attending the opening ceremony for a set of training workshops funded by the UK in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The main goal for the workshops is to strengthen the capacity of Egyptian prosecutors to investigate and prosecute migrant smuggling and people trafficking.

The workshop aims at developing the capacity of criminal justice authorities in Egypt, to effectively prevent, investigate, prosecute and adjudicate cases of migrant smuggling and trafficking.

“Last year an estimated 5000 people died trying to cross the Mediterranean in boats,” Winterton said. “The UK commends the strong action taken by the Egyptian Government to implement new anti-smuggling legislation and prevent departures from the north coast,” she added.

“We are pleased to support the Egyptian Government’s work by providing EGP 75.9m to deliver a range of migration projects in Egypt, including these UNODC workshops and other activities,” Winterton asserted. “This will assist the Egyptian.”

Winterton added that the UK is committed to working with Egypt and other international partners across the region to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people.

The event was attended by Ambassador Naela Gabr, Chairperson of the National Committee for Preventing and Combating Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons; Counsellor Kamel Samir, the Director of the International Cooperation and Human Rights Division of the Prosecutor General’s Office; and Cristina Albertin, UNODC Regional Representative for the Middle East and the North Africa.