Egypt Refugee Appeal For Refugees from Africa, Iraq and Yemen 2018 | Page 48

For Refugees & Asylum-seekers from
Sub-Saharan Africa, Iraq & Yemen
NEEDS, VULNERABILITIES AND TARGETING
The socio-economic situation of African, Yemeni and Iraqi refugees and asylum-seekers is assessed by UNHCR’s
partner Caritas through structured interviews that take place throughout the year. The assessment looks into the
dependency ratio, housing, and economic situation, as well as protection vulnerabilities.
According to these assessments, one-third of the Africans,
Iraqis and Yemenis assisted with cash grants in 2017
were unaccompanied minors or separated children.
Approximately 24 per cent of the assisted families were
headed by single parents. Seven per cent required
temporary assistance as they were succumbing to or at
risk of homelessness. Five per cent of those receiving
cash assistance were older than 60 years, had specific
needs and did not have any family members to support
them.
In order to mitigate against resorting to negative coping
mechanisms, those who were assessed as being extremely
vulnerable, are supported by cash grants. The amount
disbursed is determined by the level of vulnerability and
household size. Notwithstanding this support, the cost of
living in Egypt remains high, and the unconditional grants
only meet approximately 40 per cent of their basic needs.
The recent devaluation of the Egyptian pound has further
stretched the survival needs of this population.
With regards to food assistance, WFP has been
continuously assistng refugees from Syria since the onset
of the crisis in 2013, on the request of the Government of
Egypt. However, it has so far not been possible to also
provide unconditional general food assistance to refugees
and asylum-seekers from other countries of origin such as
sub-Saharan African countries, Yemen and Iraq due to the
lack of funding.
48
Concerning livelihoods, and according to UNHCR’s
database as at December 2017, 23.5 per cent of the
population have not received any formal education, 25
per cent have completed primary school and 37.5 per
cent secondary education. Approximately 9 per cent of
the population has attained university and post-university
education. It is noted that around 53 per cent of the urban
refugee population between (18-60 years old) have had
no prior work experience.
Securing employment is challenging for African refugees
who are vulnerable to exploitation. Due to administrative
challenges to obtaining official work permits in Egypt, the
majority of refugees and asylum-seekers are employed
in the informal sector. Many may also face discriminatory
attitudes, which can result in marginalization. Thousands
of African refugee women are employed in the domestic
work sector where some of them have been subject to
verbal and physical assaults. Many men and young
people, often newly arrived in Egypt, are confronted with
day to day temporary work options which may involve
serious protection risks. Access to information and better
avenues for work is certainly an underlying need.
As with cash assistance, there is a need for more funding
for livelihood opportunities, including certified market-
oriented vocational training, enhanced marketing
opportunities for entrepreneurs, community-based
savings programmes, and seed funding to start-up viable
businesses.