Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Abul-Naga said on 23/12/2009 Egypt attaches much importance to the issue of refugees, referring to great attention the country gives to refugees living in it.
As many as 41,000 refugees live in Egypt from 38 countries mainly Iraq, Sudan and Somalia.
At a meeting here Wednesday with Saad al-Attar, the outgoing regional representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cairo, Abul-Naga reiterated the importance of continued cooperation between the Egyptian government and UNHCR to provide basic needs and services for refugees, especially in the health and education domains.
The Egyptian minister voiced the government's appreciation of efforts exerted by al-Attar during his five-year term of duty in Cairo including his endeavours to revamp the Commissioner's bureau in Egypt and improve work at the office with the aim of protecting refugees, meeting all their needs and offering them essential services.