UN high commissioner for refugees calls for supporting Egypt to host refugees

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on Thursday called for providing assistance to Egypt to educate non-Arabic speaking refugees and tighten border guard measures. 

Addressing a press conference in Cairo after a two-day visit, Grandi said Egypt is located at the heart of refugee movement who are moving from one country to another or come to live in Egypt.

Egypt provides shelter for a huge number of refugees, only 190,000 of them are registered, coming from Syria, Sudan, Libya and other African countries, he told the presser. 

Grandi expressed thanks to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi over keeping door open to refugees who arrive to receive health and education services despite the troubles faced by the country. 

"Egypt receives refugees from many crises in the Middle East and Africa. President Sisi assured me that it will not close its doors."

The commissioner added aid provided for Cairo was not enough to support the huge numbers flocking into the country to escape wars, crises and gross injustice. 

Grand said he appreciates the role Egypt is currently playing regionally and internationally regarding refugees because of Cairo's efforts to support stability and security in the Middle East.

According to the UN Commissioner, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to provide medical supplies for hospitals receiving refugees in Cairo. 

A similar MoU would be signed with the Arab League to provide protection for refugees, especially women and children, he said. 

Palestinians in Egypt face different circumstance as no UN agencies exist to assist the government in helping new arrivals of refugees. 

The Palestinians receive aid from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, he added. 

He noted that hosting refugees in camps has been outdated idea and they should be accepted as part of the hosting communities to use the available facilities

Source: MENA