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3RP Regional Refugee & Resilience Plan 2016-2017 in Response to the Syria Crisis - Egypt [EN/AR]

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INTRODUCTION & CONTEXT

Despite the absence of a land border with Syria, The Arab Republic of Egypt (“Egypt”) has generously accepted Syrian refugees into Egypt. While the country is hosting far smaller numbers of Syrian refugees in comparison to Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, as of September 2015, there are 128,019 Syrian asylum-seekers and refugees (including 55,816 children) registered with UNHCR in Egypt. According to Government estimates, an equal number or more Syrians are unregistered and living in Egypt.

In light of increasing controls on the entry of foreigners into the country due to on-going security concerns, visa and security requirements for Syrians are maintained. Although Government policy allows for family reunification, and it has recently indicated its willingness to extend entry visas without restrictions for first-degree relatives of Syrian refugees already residing in Egypt, existing visa restrictions may impact the ability of Syrians to seek access to territory and asylum.

In addition to hosting Syrian refugees, Egypt also hosts 56,868 asylum seekers and refugees, mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq, which account for 29 per cent of the 184,887 asylum-seekers and refugees registered with UNHCR in Egypt. These populations include 26,324 Sudanese, 6,941 Somalis, 6,814 Iraqis, 5,803 Ethiopians, 3,841 South Sudanese and 3,263 Eritreans. In light of these numbers, it is important that state institutions are equipped with capacities to monitor refugee and irregular movements and their impacts on development in Egypt at large.

Refugees in Egypt often suffer from loss of hope, deteriorating psychological and medical conditions, and limited livelihood opportunities. They are particularly vulnerable to poverty, insecure food supply, access to poor quality services, as well as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including abuse and exploitation.

Syrian refugees in Egypt do not live in camps, but are living among Egyptian communities across Egypt, with the most impacted governorates being Alexandria, Cairo, Giza, and Qalyubia.
As many communities already face difficult living conditions, with unemployment rates and insufficient access to quality services, hosting refugees places additional pressures on limited resources and services.

Perceptions of competition increase the risk of social tensions. While state institutions play a key role in supporting Syrian refugees’ protection, education and health needs, already stretched capacities to provide broad and quality access to services and employment opportunities are under pressure in these communities.

Irregular departures by sea continue to increase despite efforts to strengthen the coping, recovery and mitigation capacities of refugees, host communities and state institutions. Loss of hope in the resolution of conflict in their country of origin coupled with a perceived lack of future in Egypt has contributed to some refugees departing and seek entry into Europe.

From January to October 2015, an estimated 3,057 individuals, including 17 per cent of whom are Syrians, have been arrested for attempting to depart Egypt in an irregular manner by sea. Among those 412 were children and adolescents, including 73 unaccompanied and separated children.

Most Syrian detainees are released without any charges or legal consequences, including those registered with UNHCR and with family members residing in Egypt as well as other humanitarian cases or individuals with specific vulnerabilities.

The Government allows refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR to regularize their residency and grants six-month renewable residency permits. Although Government policy does not allow any forcible return to Syria, UNHCR continues its dialogue with the Government of Egypt on how to proceed regarding Syrians who have illegally entered Egypt and wish to regularize their residency.
The general protection environment in Egypt is stable, though challenges remain for Syrian refugees. These include lengthy residency procedures, visa limitations, inflation, an increasing cost of living, limited livelihood opportunities, and potential for workplace exploitation. Cost barriers impede access to secondary and tertiary health care, and education. Physical safety is also a concern, particularly for women, girls and persons living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.