The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that Egypt is the largest country hosting Sudanese fleeing the ongoing civil war in Sudan, with recent data issued by the Egyptian government indicating that more than 1.2 million Sudanese have fled to Egypt since the outbreak of the war in mid-April 2023.
The commission said in a statement on Saturday that since the conflict broke out, more than three million people have been forcibly displaced, seeking asylum in neighboring countries.
The scale of this humanitarian crisis has placed enormous pressure on Egypt’s resources and infrastructure, and despite the generosity of the Egyptian government and its commitment to providing international protection, its capabilities are now significantly exceeded.
The Representative of the UNHCR in Egypt and the Arab League, Hanan Hamdan, called on the international community to urgently support Egypt in this humanitarian effort.
It is imperative that the responsibility for providing humanitarian and development assistance be shared at a global level, she warned, as the burden on Egypt is unsustainable and requires immediate and significant international assistance to ensure the protection and humanitarian needs of those affected by the conflict and their host communities are met.
Hamdan referred to humanitarian and development assistance, as there is an urgent need for durable solutions, and expanding resettlement and complementary pathways is essential to provide long-term stability and integration opportunities for refugees in a third country.
This will not only ease the pressure on Egypt but will also ensure that refugees have access to education, work, and the opportunity to properly rebuild their lives.
Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan 2024 received funding of US$1.52 billion, representing 56.3 percent of the requested $2.7 billion. Despite this contribution, a significant funding gap remains.