The number of migrants and refugees hosted by Egypt has grown to nine million, especially after the recent crisis in Sudan, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid announced.
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met in Geneva with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi on Thursday, Abu Zeid added.
Shoukry expressed his appreciation to the High Commissioner for the existing cooperation between UN Refugee Agency and Egypt, which will celebrate 70th anniversary this year.
Shoukry also expressed his aspiration to strengthen this partnership and cooperation during the coming period.
The minister reviewed Egypt’s policy towards immigrants and refugees, which is strictly based on respect for human rights and non-discrimination between them and Egyptian citizens.
Refugees are provided in Egypt with basic services, especially in health and education, he stressed.
Abu Zeid added that the two sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation and partnership between Egypt and the UNHCR in light of the enormous burden borne by the Egyptian government from hosting about nine million migrants and refugees.
The two sides discussed the UNHCR’s ability to mobilize resources and provide humanitarian and medical assistance at the borders for the displaced fleeing the conflict in Sudan, Abu Zeid said.
Egypt has so far received 121,000 Sudanese people, most of them women, children and the elderly since the conflict in Sudan erupted.
