UN Clarifies Refugee Figures in Egypt, Praises Country’s Humanitarian Role

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova issued a clarification on reported figures concerning refugees in the country, stating that the widely circulated number of 1.1 million refers exclusively to registered refugees and asylum-seekers under the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and does not reflect the total population of foreigners residing in Egypt.

Panova emphasized that the figure represents only a segment of a much broader demographic that includes refugees, migrants, and foreign nationals hosted in Egypt. According to Egyptian government estimates cited by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the total number of such groups in the country stands at approximately 10.5 million.

In her statement, the UN official underscored Egypt’s longstanding humanitarian role, expressing appreciation for the country’s continued commitment to hosting individuals in need of protection and assistance.

The United Nations reiterated the importance of international solidarity and called for enhanced global support for host countries that accommodate large numbers of refugees, displaced persons, and vulnerable populations, highlighting the significant burden placed on such states.

The clarification comes amid ongoing public discussion and media reporting on migration and refugee statistics in the region, where discrepancies between registered figures and broader estimates have prompted calls for greater precision in communicating humanitarian data.