On September 27, 2024, in New York, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdel Aty, urged for necessary support to help the country manage the significant influx of migrants and refugees during a meeting with IOM Director General Amy Pope. This discussion took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Abdel Aty highlighted Egypt's comprehensive approach to immigration, which considers developmental and security aspects while addressing the root causes of irregular migration. He emphasized the importance of intensifying international efforts to ensure fair and sustainable burden-sharing.
With the number of refugees in Egypt rising in recent years, the situation has become a pressing concern for the Egyptian populace. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi previously noted that hosting approximately 9 million refugees and migrants costs Egypt around $10 billion annually.
The ongoing economic crisis in Egypt has intensified discussions linking the refugee situation to rising costs of living. Experts estimate that the refugee population includes over 5 million Sudanese and over 2 million Syrians, with many not intending to return to their home countries.
The Egyptian government is currently tasked with accurately assessing the number of refugees and the associated costs of services provided to them, with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stating that expenses exceed $10 billion annually.
Refugees make up 8.7% of Egypt's population, primarily from Sudan and Syria, followed by smaller groups from South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, and Libya.