UNHCR Reports 72% of Registered Refugees in Egypt Are Sudanese Amid Ongoing Conflict

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that out of the 970,000 refugees registered in Egypt, 72% are Sudanese nationals. This significant figure underscores Egypt’s role as a primary refuge for those fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

In an interview on the Egyptian television program “Al-Hekaya” aired on MBC Masr, UNHCR Egypt’s Communications Officer, Christine Beshay, clarified the distinction between refugees and migrants. She emphasized that refugees are individuals compelled to leave their countries due to genuine threats and cannot safely return, whereas migrants relocate for various reasons without facing such dangers.

Beshay highlighted that the majority of registered refugees in Egypt are Sudanese, followed by Syrians at 14%. Other nationalities include individuals from South Sudan, Yemen, Iraq, and a total of 72 different countries.

She noted that Egypt has become the largest host country for Sudanese refugees escaping the war, with approximately 1.5 million Sudanese entering Egypt since the conflict began. However, not all have registered with UNHCR; some are in the process of registration, while others have regularized their status through different means.

Addressing concerns about reduced support for refugees in Egypt, Beshay explained that UNHCR is not a funding body but seeks financial assistance from donor entities. At the beginning of the year, UNHCR launched an appeal for $137.7 million but has only received $38.25 million to date. This global funding shortfall limits the organization’s ability to assist all refugees, focusing instead on the most vulnerable.

UNHCR continues to register approximately 3,000 refugees daily at its centers, handling registrations, protection requests, and inquiries. The organization also operates a hotline to provide information and support to those in need.