Government of Egypt, UNHCR and UNDP Launch Egypt Refugee and Resilience Response Plan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates (MFA), in collaboration with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the 2025 Egypt Refugee and Resilience Response Plan (ERRRP) today to support refugees and host communities, appealing for US $339 million to address the growing needs of refugees and host communities.

The appeal brings together the United Nations agencies, humanitarian and development partners, line ministries, government entities, civil society and Refugee-Led Organizations to support 1.8 million refugees, asylum-seekers, and affected host communities throughout 2025 with life-saving activities and critical services including education, health, protection, cash assistance, livelihoods, and food security.

“The international community’s role is crucial in preventing further displacement, while also scaling up the response and resources for refugees and host communities, in an equitable and responsible manner. Egypt has continuously offered refuge to those fleeing conflict and persecution, adopting an out-of-camp policy and implementing inclusive policies. Furthermore, the Egypt 2030 Vision is guided by the “leave no one behind” principle, ensuring that refugees and asylum-seekers are on equal footing with Egyptians” said Ambassador Dr. Wael Badawi, Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for Migration and Refugee Affairs and Combating Human Trafficking. He further noted: “With over 1.5 million Sudanese in Egypt, the country is currently the largest host of Sudanese fleeing the conflict. Amidst unprecedented regional escalation and economic hurdles, resources in Egypt are stretched thin and public infrastructure is under mounting pressure. Together, with our UN partners, and with the support of the donor community, we are looking to mitigate these challenges while sustaining our inclusive policies.”

“The ERRRP is a groundbreaking step forward. It is Egypt’s first nationally owned comprehensive refugee response plan reflecting the government’s strong leadership and robust coordination among all relevant stakeholders. It brings together humanitarian assistance, resilience-building, and solutions planning into one coherent framework. It operationalizes the Global Compact on Refugees, through much-needed investments in areas such as education, health, livelihoods, food security and social cohesion.” said Dr. Hanan Hamdan, UNHCR Representative to Egypt and the League of Arab States.

“While immediate humanitarian assistance remains essential, investing strategically in livelihoods and resilience is fundamental for long-term sustainability for forcibly displaced and host communities. The ERRRP is a clear call to action that promotes self-reliance for all and helps strengthen resilience against economic shocks to pave the way for durable solutions,” said Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti, Resident Representative of UNDP in Egypt. He further emphasized: “This endeavor necessitates close partnership among the Government of Egypt, the UN system, and international partners, backed by firm commitments to transform shared responsibility into sustained support.”

As of 24 June 2025, Egypt hosts over one million registered refugees and asylum-seekers from over 60 nationalities. The crisis in Sudan has led to a surge in the number of Sudanese refugees whose numbers increased by more than 12-fold since April 2023. Currently, Sudanese refugees comprise 73 percent of the refugee population, followed by Syrians at 13.5 percent.

This recent surge in the refugee population has been accompanied by a marked increase in the demand for assistance, as numerous families have depleted their limited resources while seeking safety. Consequently, public services and infrastructure are experiencing considerable pressure, emphasizing the importance of providing targeted support to further enhance the Government’s capacity to effectively respond. This situation underscores the critical need for enhanced international cooperation and assistance, particularly given the challenges appealing partners encounter in addressing escalating needs with constrained resources.

The ERRRP operates under the leadership of the Government of Egypt as a coordination, implementation and resource mobilization mechanism that consolidates collective efforts to respond to humanitarian and development challenges. It supports national institutions to continue to offer protection to those in need, providing lifesaving assistance, strengthening national systems, and reinforcing peaceful co-existence of refugees and host communities.