Cairo (AFP) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Egypt announced on Tuesday that it is compelled to cut “life-saving” aid provided to tens of thousands of refugees due to reduced funding caused by the “global humanitarian funding crisis.”
In a statement, UNHCR clarified that the suspended aid includes essential healthcare services, child protection, and other vital assistance previously offered to refugees, including those fleeing the war in Sudan.
The statement added that the funding halt will affect “oncological surgeries, chemotherapy, heart surgeries, and medications for chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes.”
However, the suspension excludes “emergency life-saving interventions.”
Egypt hosts 1.5 million Sudanese refugees, including 670,000 registered with UNHCR, who are expected to be among “the most affected by the aid cuts.”
The statement quoted Jakob Arhem, UNHCR’s public health officer in Cairo, saying, “The consequences of halting support will be dire, as many patients will not be able to afford treatment themselves, leading to deteriorating health, weakness, and potentially many deaths.” He explained that access to healthcare was one of the main factors driving many Sudanese refugees to flee to Egypt, alongside escaping violence and conflict.
He added, “The healthcare system in Sudan was one of the first sectors to collapse after the outbreak of fighting. Many families who fled included sick individuals who could no longer receive treatment in Sudan.”
Although Egypt’s public health sector accommodates Sudanese refugees, most remain unable to afford medical care costs.
In 2024, UNHCR in Egypt received less than half of the required budget ($135 million) needed to fund assistance for 939,000 registered refugees from Sudan and 60 other countries.
UNHCR prioritizes life-saving aid for the most vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied children and survivors of sexual violence and torture. However, these programs are threatened due to funding shortages.
