UN provides $5 mln to help Egypt accommodate Sudanese refugees

By Nada Ali On May 23, 2023

A South Sudanese refugee and her grandchild at one of eight health facilities in Kenya's Kalobeyei settlement. Photo credit: UNHCR/Pauline Omagwa

The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) announced on Tuesday that it has earmarked $5 million to support UN humanitarian efforts in Egypt directed towards people fleeing violence and conflict in Sudan.

The funding will be used to provide food, water and sanitation, healthcare services, cash assistance as well as psycho-social support, UN body said on Monday in a statement.

Egypt has received the largest number of people fleeing the war in Sudan, including refugees, returnees, and asylum-seekers. It is estimated that over 113,000 people arrived on the Egyptian-Sudanese borders as of 17 May 2023.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) forecasts that a total of 350,000 people could arrive in Egypt within the next six months.

In addition to $5 million for Egypt, CERF also offered a total of $17 million to other neighbouring countries of Sudan, including Chad, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan.