Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development received a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR, headed by Mamadou Diagne Balde, Director of UNHCR's Regional Office for East Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes to discuss enhancing joint cooperation.
Mamadou Diagne expressed his admiration for visiting the New Administrative Capital, praising the role played by Egypt in hosting millions of refugees, who receive basic services such as health and education, just like Egyptian citizens.
He pointed out that Egypt has received about 1.2 million Sudanese refugees as a result of the internal situation in Sudan, and stressed the Commission's readiness to enhance partnership with the Egyptian government and support host communities.
On her part, the Minister stressed that Egypt bears a heavy burden in caring for more than 9 million guests of different nationalities, who enjoy all health, education and social services like citizens. She pointed out their use of service facilities that affect their daily lives, stressing the state's commitment to providing full support to them.
UNHCR representative in Egypt Hanan Hamdan explained that the Commission is working to support Egyptian institutions that bear the burden of hosting refugees in many governorates, praising the vital role played by local authorities in dealing with refugees as the first line of defense against them.
She stressed that Egypt, over decades, has hosted millions of refugees from neighboring countries without compensation, which calls for the international community to appreciate this historic role.
The meeting witnessed a review of a number of proposals for cooperation between the Ministry and the Commission, including developing infrastructure in areas that include large numbers of refugees, with the aim of alleviating the burdens of the Egyptian state in this area and enhancing services provided to host communities.
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