He said that Egypt receives more than 10 million migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and that the costs of their support exceed 10 billion dollars (about 8.5 billion euros). This number is significantly higher than UNHCR data, which records about 1.1 million registered refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt.
The difference comes from the methodology: UNHCR counts only registered refugees and asylum seekers, while Egyptian authorities include migrants and irregular foreign nationals. Officials argue that higher figures show the real burden, while UNHCR uses a narrower legal framework.
Egypt has become an important destination due to its geography, proximity to Sudan and long ties to the region. People from Sudan, Syria, Palestine, Yemen and Eritrea live in the country. Most of them live in cities like Cairo and Alexandria, because Egypt does not have large refugee camps like Jordan or Turkey.
Although the authorities claim that this is a sign of integration, humanitarian organizations warn that it puts an additional burden on housing, education and the health system, especially in times of economic crisis.
Egypt has been dealing with inflation, currency devaluation and rising prices for years. Inflation in 2026 is around 14–15%, while rents in Cairo have increased between 10% and 18%. The average rent for a small apartment reaches around 27,000 Egyptian pounds, while the minimum wage is around 7,000, meaning that many cannot cover basic housing costs.
Refugees are in an even more difficult situation because they generally do not have work permits and depend on informal work or UNHCR assistance. That aid has been cut significantly — from about $11 a month per person in 2022 to less than $4 in 2025.
The Sudanese war that began in 2023 further worsened the situation, as Egypt became the largest host of Sudanese refugees. The number of asylum seekers has tripled since then, with Sudanese now the largest group.
UNHCR warns that tens of thousands of families could lose aid due to lack of funding. Only about 2% of the required funds for 2026 are covered.
At the same time, there is growing concern about the treatment of migrants. UN experts have warned of allegations of arrests and deportations without adequate risk assessment, especially for Sudanese and Syrians. Egypt maintains that these are temporary measures and that it respects the principle of not returning people to danger.
Migration has become a key part of EU-Egypt relations, along with economics, trade and security, but remains a politically sensitive issue.
(Vijesti.ba)
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