Attachments
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS – HIGHLIGHTS
• Egypt received the second highest number of asylum applications worldwide last year, with a total of 433,900, according to UNHCR’s recently published 2024 Global Trends report.
• The Government of Egypt (GoE) has officially endorsed the Egypt Refugee and Resilience Response Plan (ERRRP 2025), marking its first nationally led refugee initiative. The plan will be launched on 24 June at a joint event hosted by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This milestone follows nearly two years of dialogue and collaboration. The launch, co-organized by the MFA, UNHCR, and UNDP, will take place at MFA headquarters and will engage key donor partners.
• Between 12 and 15 May, UNHCR conducted a mission to Aswan and distributed 68 UNHCR-issued documents to Sudanese refugees and asylum-seekers. During a community meeting, Sudanese leaders appreciated the local distribution, citing difficulties traveling to Cairo and urging a continued UNHCR presence in Aswan.
• On 28 May, UNHCR, IOM, and UNDP co-organized a donor briefing in Cairo to provide key updates on the asylum law, the cross-border movements of Sudanese and Syrian nationals, and the impact of recent funding cuts. Representatives from embassies and the World Bank attended the meeting. Participants showed particular interest in UNHCR’s work with the GoE on the asylum system transition, the launch of the ERRRP, and the situation of Sudanese refugees in Aswan.
• On 13 May, UNHCR Representative to Egypt delivered a lecture at the Institute of National Planning (INP) as part of its “Distinguished Speakers” series in Cairo. The Representative presented UNHCR’s strategic response in Egypt, highlighting key programmes such as the Instant Network Schools (INS), PROSPECT, and MADE51. The session sparked a dynamic discussion on the refugee situation, UNHCR's support to public infrastructure, and challenges. This first engagement with INP opens the door to future collaboration. Protection