Egypt Refugee Appeal For Refugees from Africa, Iraq and Yemen 2018 | Page 4

For Refugees & Asylum-seekers from
Sub-Saharan Africa, Iraq & Yemen
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Egypt is currently home to more than 219,212 registered
asylum-seekers and refugees, 42 per cent of whom are
from sub-Saharan Africa, Iraq, and Yemen. While the
numbers of Syrian refugees coming to Egypt spiked in
recent years as a result of the war in Syria, refugees from
other parts of the world remained in need of protection
and assistance.
assistance to meet their basic needs and to receive
medical or psychosocial support.
Over the past two years, over 54,600 Africans, Iraqis and
Yemenis registered with UNHCR in Egypt due to renewed
conflicts and continuous political instability and insecurity
in the East and Horn of Africa, Iraq, and Yemen. As of 31
December 2017, their total number reached 92,524, with
35,737 Sudanese, 14,452 Ethiopians, 12,693 Eritreans,
10,077 South Sudanese, 6,663 Iraqis, 6,647 Somalis,
4,585 Yemenis, and more than 50 other nationalities. Humanitarian agencies cannot serve refugees and
asylum-seekers in Egypt without the generous support
of donors. Unfortunately, funding to humanitarian
agencies working with the sub-Saharan African, Iraqi,
and Yemeni populations has been constrained and has
led to inequality in assistance provided to the different
refugee population groups in Egypt. The majority of
these population groups have substantial psychosocial,
protection, and livelihood assistance needs. The
Government of Egypt, UNHCR, CRS, IOM, Refuge Egypt,
SCI, UNFPA, UNICEF and WFP, continue to join efforts
in ensuring that adequate protection and minimum
essential services are provided to these populations.
Challenging economic conditions in Egypt have
considerably exacerbated the levels of vulnerability
in recent years. With many lacking a stable source of
income, coupled with soaring inflation and a weakening
currency, basic needs are barely being covered. Many
refugees and asylum-seekers have voiced their protection
concerns in addition to concerns regarding limited
livelihood opportunities, especially for adolescents, and
language barriers. Some also lack access to sustainable
formal education that could support their development.
A considerable number of African, Iraqi and Yemeni
refugees and asylum-seekers rely on humanitarian Humanitarian agencies have identified a total need of
USD 41.8 million to provide adequate services to the
refugees and asylum-seekers from sub-Saharan Africa,
Iraq and Yemen living in Egypt in 2018. Priority areas of
intervention will include strengthening the refugee status
determination (RSD) process, targeted multi-purpose
cash assistance, promoting livelihood opportunities, and
improved access to child protection, social services, and
community-based protection. UNHCR and partners will
continue to invest in communities and work with partners
and local institutions to build resilience, and contribute to
promoting community development.
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