Funding Cuts Endanger Sudanese Refugees in Egypt: A Call for Urgent Support
The UNHCR has suspended critical support for Sudanese refugees in Egypt due to funding shortages, leaving over 20,000 individuals without necessary medical care. This crisis stems from the ongoing conflict in Sudan that has displaced millions. Key stakeholders, including UNHCR officials, stress the urgent need for donor support to avert worsening humanitarian conditions.
The Global humanitarian funding crisis has compelled the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to halt essential life-saving support for refugees in Egypt, impacting tens of thousands of individuals, notably Sudanese war escapees. This suspension has deprived around 20,000 refugees of vital medical services, such as cancer treatment, heart surgery, and necessary medications for chronic illnesses—only emergency procedures remain available.
Sudanese refugees, particularly those fleeing the April 2023 conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, are among the most affected. Egypt, currently hosting over 1.5 million Sudanse refugees, is the world’s leading host nation. Among them, 670,000 are recognized by UNHCR, amidst an overall displacement of over 12.5 million Sudanese.
Abdelazim Mohamed, a 54-year-old refugee with a severe heart condition, expressed grave concerns about his future due to funding cuts. He indicated that lack of medical care in Sudan forced his escape and lamented, “When life became unbearable back home, especially because there were no health facilities operating… I felt that staying in Sudan with my condition would be suicide.”
Jakob Arhem, a Public Health Officer from UNHCR Cairo, highlighted that while the Egyptian health system is accessible, fees are prohibitively expensive for many refugees. He explained that the organization had previously set up programs to ensure access to healthcare for refugees, stating, “The consequences for people who will no longer get our support are hard to measure… many will not be able to find the means to pay for health care themselves and they will get sicker, weaker and many will die.”
Abdelazim and his wife currently reside in a modest Cairo apartment. He was previously diagnosed with serious heart conditions and received treatment through UNHCR support, but now fears for his health, stating, “I fought so hard to survive, but now, I don’t know if I’ll make it. If I can’t afford my medicine, what happens to me? What happens to my wife?”
Last year, UNHCR secured less than half of the required $135 million for over 939,000 refugees in Egypt, and as funding has dwindled, critical support has been withdrawn. The organization strives to maintain essential services for the most vulnerable groups, such as unaccompanied minors and survivors of violence. However, continued funding cuts jeopardize these crucial programs.
Farah Nassef, a UNHCR Child Protection Officer, noted the dire situation of an unaccompanied young Sudanese man previously receiving support for mental and physical disabilities, which has been withdrawn due to funding issues. “Despite him having no family, no community support, it means that he will be left in an extremely dire and difficult situation,” she emphasized.
UNHCR urges immediate action from donors, including governments and private entities, to restore funding for refugees who are increasingly at risk due to financial constraints.
Marti Romero, Deputy Representative at UNHCR Egypt, stated, “The needs of refugees fleeing Sudan are growing by the day, but funding is not keeping pace. Without immediate international action, both refugees and host communities will face even greater hardship. We need urgent and sustained support to prevent this crisis from worsening.”
A substantial number of refugees and displaced individuals globally face losing access to essential aid on account of drastic cuts in humanitarian funding. UNHCR remains committed to protecting those forced to flee, yet emphasizes the pressing need for renewed donor assistance to avert escalating humanitarian crises.
In conclusion, the urgent funding crisis faced by UNHCR jeopardizes essential services for Sudanese refugees in Egypt, many of whom are reliant on life-saving medical treatment and support. This situation necessitates immediate and intensified action from donors to avert further deterioration of living conditions and health outcomes for this vulnerable population. Without adequate funding, refugees may face dire consequences, underscoring the importance of sustained humanitarian assistance.
Original Source: www.unhcr.org
