UNRC in Egypt: Launch of 2025 Refugee Response Plan Reflects Egypt’s Commitment to Global Compact on Refugees

The United Nations, in collaboration with the Egyptian government, launched the Egypt Refugee and Resilience Response Plan (ERRRP) 2025 on Tuesday during a high-level event held at the Marriott Hotel in Zamalek. 

The comprehensive initiative aims to address the needs of refugees, asylum-seekers, and host communities amid a growing regional humanitarian crisis.

Speaking at the launch, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova, hailed the ERRRP as a milestone in Egypt’s ongoing efforts to uphold the rights and dignity of displaced populations. “This plan reflects not only Egypt’s longstanding hospitality, but also its deep commitment to the Global Compact for Refugees,” Panova told a distinguished audience of ambassadors, UN officials, and government representatives.

The ERRRP, co-led by UNHCR and UNDP and developed in close coordination with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represents the first national response plan encompassing all refugees, asylum-seekers, third-country nationals, and affected host communities in Egypt. It is rooted in the principles of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus and closely aligned with Egypt’s national development agenda, including the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023–2027.

Egypt currently hosts an estimated 1.5 million Sudanese nationals who fled the conflict in their country, as well as nearly one million refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR from more than 62 countries. Panova underscored the scale of Egypt’s role, referencing remarks made by Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty at the UN General Assembly, where he revealed that Egypt had become the third-largest recipient of asylum applications globally, hosting over 10 million migrants and refugees.

Despite these mounting pressures, Panova acknowledged Egypt’s inclusive approach, noting that refugees and migrants have access to national education and healthcare systems, even as these services face additional strain due to the country’s economic challenges.

“Egypt’s response has come at great national expense,” she said. “The recently adopted National Asylum Law is a pivotal step toward establishing a legal framework that ensures protection, clarity, and improved access to essential services for refugees.”

Panova emphasized that the burden of protecting displaced populations must not fall on Egypt alone, urging the international community to scale up support. “This is the moment to share responsibility,” she said, calling on global partners to bolster funding and assistance for national systems, grassroots NGOs, and local actors who are closest to the communities in need.

Highlighting the strategic goals of the ERRRP, Panova stressed the importance of strengthening national ownership, empowering refugees and host communities, and building sustainable and resilient systems to navigate protracted displacement.

“This Plan is more than an operational framework,” she concluded. “It is a shared commitment—grounded in dignity, guided by solidarity, and fulfilled through collective action.”

The launch marks a critical moment in Egypt’s evolving role as a major host country for displaced populations, as well as a regional leader in aligning humanitarian response with long-term development and peacebuilding efforts.