Funding Cuts Endangered Lives of Sudanese Refugees in Egypt

UNHCR has suspended critical support for Sudanese refugees in Egypt due to funding cuts, affecting tens of thousands lacking access to essential medical care and other aid. Refugees, particularly those with chronic health conditions, face increased risks without such support. The organization calls for urgent donations to sustain life-saving programs and assist vulnerable populations amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

The ongoing global humanitarian funding crisis has compelled the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to halt essential support for refugees in Egypt, notably affecting those who have fled the war in Sudan. This suspension disrupts access to crucial medical treatment, child protection services, and other forms of essential aid for tens of thousands of refugees.

Due to insufficient funding and uncertainty regarding donor contributions, UNHCR has stopped all non-emergency medical treatments for refugees in Egypt, impacting approximately 20,000 patients. Services such as cancer surgery, chemotherapy, and chronic disease medications have been suspended, exacerbating the plight of vulnerable populations.

Sudanese refugees are among the most severely impacted. Egypt has accepted over 1.5 million individuals escaping ongoing violence since the conflict began in April 2023, including roughly 670,000 registered with UNHCR. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has displaced more than 12.5 million people, with over 3.7 million seeking refuge in foreign countries.

Abdelazim Mohamed, a refugee suffering from a serious heart condition, is one of many expressing fears about the implications of these funding cuts on their health. “When life became unbearable back home, especially because there were no health facilities operating… I felt that staying in Sudan… would be suicide,” he stated. UNHCR officials highlighted that access to healthcare was a fundamental reason for Sudanese refugees seeking safety in Egypt, as the health system in Sudan collapsed after the outbreak of conflict.

Although refugees have access to Egypt’s national health system, many cannot afford its associated costs. UNHCR had established programs to facilitate access to essential health services for refugees, but the reduction in aid may lead to dire consequences. According to Jakob Arhem, UNHCR’s Public Health Officer in Cairo, “the consequences for people who will no longer get our support are hard to measure… many will not be able to find the means to pay for health care.”

Abdelazim and his wife currently reside in a modest apartment in Cairo, having sought refuge from their former lives. He has received critical medical care through UNHCR but fears for his life without ongoing medication, stating, “I don’t know if I’ll make it. If I can’t afford my medicine, what happens to me?”

In the previous year, UNHCR secured less than half of the $135 million needed to assist over 939,000 refugees in Egypt. The substantial decrease in funding since the beginning of this year has led UNHCR to make challenging decisions regarding which life-saving programs to maintain. The organization is currently prioritizing critical services to the most vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied children and survivors of violence.

Farah Nassef, UNHCR Child Protection Officer in Egypt, highlighted an alarming case of an unaccompanied Sudanese minor whose essential support was terminated due to funding constraints, leaving him without community or familial assistance. “It means that he will be left in an extremely dire and difficult situation,” she stated.

UNHCR has urgently appealed to all donors to support refugees facing diminished resources. Marti Romero, Deputy Representative at UNHCR Egypt, emphasized the pressing needs of the Sudanese refugees, asserting, “Without immediate international action, both refugees and host communities will face even greater hardship.”

As global humanitarian funding continues to dwindle, the risk to millions of refugees grows. UNHCR remains committed to protecting displaced individuals but requires the urgent collaboration of individuals, businesses, and governments to sustain these efforts.

Your donations are vital to aiding the most vulnerable refugees who are relying on this support for their survival.

In summary, funding cuts have severely impacted the provision of essential services for Sudanese refugees in Egypt, jeopardizing their health and well-being. With many refugees facing dire consequences due to the suspension of critical medical care and aid, there is an urgent need for increased support from global donors to address this humanitarian crisis. UNHCR’s commitment to protecting displaced individuals persists, but immediate assistance is necessary to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

Original Source: www.unhcr.org