Attachments
OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS
▪ The scale and magnitude of displacement within Sudan and into neighbouring countries has continued to increase since the conflict erupted in Khartoum, Sudan, in mid-April 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The current fighting has led to over to 113,000 individuals crossing into Egypt to seek safety including 107,826 Sudanese and 5,364 third-country nationals.
▪ The Government of Egypt has been providing protection and humanitarian relief to those in need and the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has reiterated its commitment to keeping the border open and to not implementing an encampment policy. The MFA has also highlighted the support required for host communities across Egypt, who are receiving the large number of recent arrivals.
▪ While Egypt is applying the Four Freedoms Agreement for Sudanese in Egypt, some people fleeing are unable to meet the entry requirements and therefore need a visa to cross to Egypt, despite their need for international protection. UNHCR has emphasized that Sudanese fleeing in the wake of hostilities erupting need international protection.
▪ The MFA initial clearance for UN staff to be at the two entry points at the border is currently valid for one month. UNHCR continues to coordinate future plans with the MFA, which has assured UNHCR rolling access to each cross point. UNHCR continues to advocate for the formalization of its presence in Aswan. This remains crucial for the assessment and provision of an adequate response, which includes the need for registration and data collection to enable proper planning and the provision of assistance.
▪ The Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan was launched on 17 May and seeks $470.4 million to support refugees, returnees and host communities in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. In Egypt, the plan seeks $114 million to assist 350,000 refugees and 8,000 third-country nationals. UNHCR’s supplementary appeal for the Sudan emergency seeks $253.9 million, including $25.2 million for Egypt, to l support government-led efforts to address the protection and urgent needs of refugees.