Attachments
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
-
On 31 August, the Government of Egypt announced that foreign residents living irregularly in Egypt must formalize their status within three months. The process involves obtaining a legal residence permit with sponsorship from an Egyptian national and paying administrative expenses equivalent to USD $1,000. Foreigners must convert funds for the fees from foreign currencies to Egyptian pounds, which includes residence costs, through authorized channels.
Although the government confirmed that this measure will not affect refugees and asylumseekers registered with UNHCR, it is still unclear whether this measure will impact other Sudanese individuals who have fled the conflict and have not yet registered with UNHCR, including those already residing in Egypt and now no longer able to return to Sudan. UNHCR is sharing information messages through communication channels explaining that the new regulations do not apply to refugees. -
As of 3 September, following UNHCR’s advocacy, refugees and asylum seekers regardless of their nationality can now collect remittances through IBAG (authorized agent for Western Union in Egypt) by using UNHCR registration cards as recognized identity document in conjunction with their residency permit. This eases access to Money Transfer Services across 38 branches in Egypt.
-
UNHCR Representative, Dr. Hanan Hamdan, conducted a two-day mission to Alexandria on 29 and 30 August. It included meetings with refugee community leaders at the Caritas Community Centre and with the Saudi Consul and the Director of the Bibliotheca of Alexandria on ideas for further cooperation aimed at promoting the inclusion of refugees in the city. Alexandria currently hosts more than 28,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, including large numbers of Sudanese.
-
The UNHCR Representative in Sudan, Axel Bisschop, conducted a mission to Cairo on August 30 and 31, to discuss coordination between the UNHCR Egypt and Sudan operations and the complex humanitarian situation in Wadi Halfa, where UNHCR has recently established an office to support forcibly displaced people, including those awaiting entry into Egypt and those who have returned. UNHCR is working to enhance cross-border coordination to address the growing needs in Wadi Halfa. Mr Bisschop also addressed a Sudan inter-agency meeting including diplomatic representatives from the USA, EU, and the embassies of Germany, the Netherlands,
Switzerland, among others. -
As part of its strategy to empower local organizations and enhance livelihood opportunities for refugees and their hosts in southern Egypt, UNHCR delivered electronic and kitchen appliances, sewing machines, and other materials to eight community development associations on 26 and 30 August. The local organizations have been providing support to people arriving from Sudan since the conflict began on 15 April, offering food and shelter in Aswan and Karkar, a small town located some 30 km from Aswan. UNHCR has now agreed to provide each association with material assistance to address the needs of the new arrivals. The donated materials, which include seven laptops, seven fridges, five washing machines, four sewing machines, and three tool sharpening machines, will enable both refugees and the host community to improve their livelihoods, while also promoting the local integration of new arrivals from Sudan.
-
Egypt has established measures to reduce traffic congestion at the Argeen and Qustol border crossings which has significantly relieved pressures. A queueing system in Abu Simbel and Aswan has reduced the length of tailbacks in Qustol from 15 km to 2km, and in Argeen ed from 22km to 15km over the past two weeks.