Egypt Faces Rising Refugee Crisis as Sudanese Flee Conflict

Egypt Faces Rising Refugee Crisis as Sudanese Flee Conflict

Egypt is experiencing a significant increase in refugees due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023. The UNHCR reports that over 748,000 refugees and asylum-seekers are now registered in Egypt, with a large portion being women and children. The number of Sudanese refugees has surged nearly sevenfold since the conflict began, and the figures are expected to continue rising.

The influx has placed considerable strain on Egypt’s resources and those of UN agencies and other partners working to provide education and protection for the growing refugee population. The 2024 Sudan Regional Refugee Response plan requires $109 million to address educational needs across the region. However, only 20 percent of this amount has been secured so far, with Egypt receiving just $4.3 million—40 percent of the required funds for its own needs.

During a recent high-level mission to Egypt, representatives from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), UNHCR, and UNICEF highlighted the critical funding shortfall and urged for increased international support. They emphasized the need for urgent funding to ensure that refugee children can access education despite the ongoing crisis.

Education Cannot Wait’s Executive Director, Yasmine Sherif, stressed that education is crucial for displaced children, providing them with protection and a sense of stability. She called on international donors to increase their support to prevent these children from being denied their right to education due to their displacement.

UNHCR Representative Dr. Hanan Hamdan echoed this sentiment, urging for enhanced international assistance to support Egypt’s efforts. UNICEF’s Representative in Egypt, Jeremy Hopkins, noted that UNICEF is working to create inclusive learning environments for both refugee and host community children.

In response to the crisis, ECW has allocated $2 million for emergency grants in Egypt, benefiting over 20,000 Sudanese refugees through education and support services. The organization has also provided $8 million in grants to other countries affected by the Sudanese conflict and invested $28.7 million in Sudan itself.

ECW continues to appeal for an additional $600 million to address education needs across the region and support millions of children affected by the crisis.

Source: Africa News