FACT SHEET – EGYPT September 2009 Refugees and asylum seekers Nationality Sudan Iraq Somalia Eritrea Ethiopia Others Total

No. of persons 22,689 9,126 6,108 1,638 927 935 41,423*

Percentage of total 55% 22% 15% 4% 2% 2% 100%

Egypt is a signatory state to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1969 OAU Convention Governing Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. It continues to host a large number of refugees and asylum-seekers, living scattered across the city of Cairo and some 1,200 in Alexandria. In the absence of a national asylum system, all activities pertaining to registration, documentation and refugee status determination are carried out by UNHCR. *Of this figure, some 10,000 refugees and asylum seekers have not contacted UNHCR Cairo or its partners for renewal of UNHCR documentation or assistance for the past 3-4 years. UNHCR and its Partners UNHCR’s Regional Representation in the Arab Republic of Egypt to the League of Arab States is based in Cairo. Its activities are carried out by a total number of 55 staff. UNHCR Cairo’s main governmental counterpart is the Refugee Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Operational and implementing partners include CARITAS, Refuge Egypt, CRS, CEOSS, community-based organizations (CBOs) and AMERA. UNHCR is an active member of the UN Country Team in Egypt.

Durable Solutions • Total number of Sudanese assisted with voluntary repatriation from January to 30 September 2009: 522 persons. • Total number of Iraqis assisted, including financially, to return to Iraq on a case by case basis from January to 30 September 2009: 619 persons. In addition, some 774 Iraqis closed their files to depart Egypt, largely also to return to Iraq, during the same period. • Number of persons submitted for resettlement from January to 30 September 2009: 625 persons of various nationalities, including 290 Iraqis (46.4%). The resettlement planning figure for 2009 is 900 persons with protection or other specials needs. Health-Care and Education • Number of persons who received subsidized health care during the month of September 2009: 2,151 persons, including 603 Iraqis (28%), bringing the total to 21,452 persons since 1 January 2009. • The total number of school-aged children registered with UNHCR (age 6-18 years) is 9,956 persons, including 2,797 Iraqis. To date, of these, a total of 3,625 children (some 36.4%) are supported with education grants for the school year 2009/2010, including 916 Iraqi children (25%). In addition, another 1,400 students, including 145 Iraqis, have registered for the grant still to be interviewed. Efforts were undertaken to individually contact and encourage refugees to enroll their children in school and to register for the education grant, on account of which several have approached or have pledged to approach (some 83 cases) to register for the grant. During the past academic year 2008/09, some 6,603 children were supported. Support for Persons with Special Needs • Some 998 persons received social counseling during September 2009, bringing the total since 1 January 2009 to some 10,867 persons. • Some 2,662 persons were provided with emergency and financial assistance during September 2009, bringing the total since 1 January 2009 to some 23,195 persons.

Registration and Refugee Status Determination During the month of September 2009, some 295 persons of concern newly registered with UNHCR Cairo, mainly from the Sudan and Iraq. Refugee status determination took place, either prima facie or through comprehensive refugee status determination interviews, for 182 cases. A total of 10 appeal interviews were conducted and final decisions were taken in the cases of 07 asylum-seekers. Budget 2009 Projects Title Target in US$ Funded by 32020400 Local Settlement for Stateless Persons in Egypt 45,422 UNHCR (AB) 32020401 Local Settlement for Refugees in Egypt 3,273,225 UNHCR (AB) 32020403 Local Refugee Support Fund 109,280 Netherlands 32020331 Voluntary Repatriation of Sudanese from Egypt 200,000 UNHCR (SB) 32020133 Iraqi refugees in Egypt 3,003,677 UNHCR (SB) 32020205 Strengthening Protection and Capacity Project 268,335 EC 96163450 DAFI Project 34,398 UNHCR Total Budget Target 2009 US $ 6,934,337 Main objectives in 2009 1. Ensure international standards of protection are met for all persons of concern to UNHCR through registration, documentation, as appropriate, targeted refugee status determination, identification of persons with special needs, and respond to challenges posed by irregular movement, including detention. 2. Enhance the search for durable solutions, with priority given to: *Strengthening access to health-care and education, and promoting civil, social and economic rights of persons of concern to UNHCR in Egypt; including by providing education support and subsidized primary and emergency healthcare as well as individual and family support for persons with special needs. * Facilitating and assisting the safe and dignified voluntary return of persons of concern to UNHCR in Egypt, who wish to return, based on an informed decision, in particular Sudanese who wish to return to the South of Sudan, and * Focusing the use of resettlement as a tool to address protection and other special needs, which can not be addressed in Egypt, through effective identification, comprehensive needs-assessment and submissions in close co-operation with countries of resettlement (Planning figure: 900 persons) 3. Strengthen partnerships for protection and durable solutions through community outreach, including by supporting a number of refugee community-based organizations, by engaging actively with other actors, including the UN Country Team, inter alia, to ensure preparedness and response to humanitarian needs and follow up on the Consolidated Appeal for Iraq; as well as through training and capacity-building. 4. Strengthen media advocacy in support of refugee protection in Egypt and the Middle East by providing regular interviews, press briefings and other public information publications to the Arab and International media and regular update of the UNHCR Arabic website. For more information please contact [email protected]