UNHCR: Egypt Hosts 460,000 Registered Refugees

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that Egypt hosts about 460,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers from 59 different nationalities. 

As of October 2023, Sudanese nationals have become the largest group, followed by Syrians. Other significant countries of origin include South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Yemen, Somalia, and Iraq.

According to UNHCR, refugees and asylum-seekers live in an urban setting in Egypt and are largely concentrated in Greater Cairo, Alexandria, Damietta, and other cities in the North and East parts of the country. In recent years, however, the economic conditions in the country have considerably increased the vulnerability of both refugees and host communities.

The UNHCR has been working in Egypt since 1954, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the government of Egypt and the UNHCR.