Attachments
OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS
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More than 210,000 Sudanese have fled their country for Egypt since the beginning of the crisis, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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The number of refugees passing through the Egyptian border from Sudan has dropped significantly since the imposition of new restrictions (details below). From 10 June, anyone wishing to enter Egypt, irrespective of age and gender, must have an Egyptian entry visa. UNHCR teams at the main crossings at Argeen and Qustol have confirmed a drop from thousands to the low hundreds. Most new arrivals are men who have obtained visas in either Wadi Halfa or Port Sudan.
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Prior to the new restrictions, people had rushed to the border to cross in time while making the difficult decision to leave family members behind. Some reportedly abandoned their buses waiting to enter Egypt in an attempt to enter quicker on foot. The crowds behind the border gate and inside the buffer zone include those with serious medical needs and incomplete documentation. UNHCR and its partner the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) succeeded in facilitating serious medical cases for entry but only for those with the correct documentation.
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On 7 June, Egyptian media reported - and later confirmed to UNHCR - that the Cabinet had advanced a new draft law on asylum-seekers providing a larger role for the state in the management of refugee affairs (details below).