After fighting broke out in Sudan in mid-April, Egypt promptly mobilized to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people fleeing the violence.
Egypt’s quick action was driven by “its conviction in the unified destiny and the shared history among the peoples of the Nile Valley,” according to Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Shoukry.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Egypt is the largest host of Sudanese fleeing the conflict, with an estimated arrival rate of over 5,000 individuals per day.
Spokesperson of Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abu Zeid provided detailed information on Sunday about Egypt’s actions to assist Sudanese refugees.
To date, 164,000 Sudanese have been granted access to Egypt through its southern borders.
- Visas were issued to thousands of Sudanese men, while women, children, and the elderly were granted access without requiring a visa.
- Egypt has delivered 30 tons of medical supplies to Port Sudan and has facilitated the transort of tens of tons more of international humanitarian aid.
- The Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) has established a humanitarian centre at the border crossings.
- Egypt deployed 15 mobile clinics and several fixed clinics and pharmacies in addition to 12 medical convoys at the Egyptian-Sudanese border crossings.
- 13 ambulances have been allocated to the Egyptian side of the border.
- Medications were provided to 1,050 people with chronic diseases.
- 157 people were admitted to intensive care units.
- 120 patients underwent major surgeries.
- 15,000 hygiene kits were distributed.
- Free cellular lines and thousands of hot meals were provided.
- Free transportation from border crossings and freedom of movement was granted.
- Unrestricted access to healthcare, education and other basic services has been provided.
Abu Zeid emphasized that Egypt has not closed its borders, established refugee camps, imposed restrictions on the movement of Sudanese individuals, or carried out forced returns. Egypt has also not implemented any discriminatory measures.
Last week, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that it would provide EGP 50 million (about $1.6 million) to the ERC to provide humanitarian support to people of all nationalities who are crossing the border from Sudan.
Earlier in May, the ERC received 27 tons of relief supplies provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union (EU).
The conflict in Sudan has displaced over 1.3 million people, most of them internally, and killed over 700 people, including tens of children, according to recent data by the UN.
