In a televised address, El-Homsani revealed that the government is working to establish standardized criteria for calculating the costs associated with hosting refugees, to be applied across various ministries and governmental bodies.
He added that Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly is closely overseeing the evaluation process, which follows internationally recognized standards, in collaboration with UN agencies.
According to El-Homsani, the assessment considers both the direct costs incurred by the state budget and the essential services provided to refugees and foreign residents.
Key services such as healthcare, energy, education, security, and electricity have been included in the evaluation, with coordination from state institutions.
The government is in the final stages of estimating the costs of hosting refugees and developing strategies to manage these expenses soon, El-Homsani added.
He explained that one of the primary aims of the assessment is to identify the financial impact of hosting refugees, intending to incorporate this data into broader economic planning.
“Understanding these costs will assist decision-makers and provide insights into how they impact alternative spending priorities and wider economic and social strategies,” El-Homsani said.
Furthermore, he emphasized that the findings will create a framework for discussions with international donor organizations to secure necessary support for Egypt.
Given the significant financial burden and the ongoing regional and global economic challenges, PM Madbouly stressed the importance of gaining international support, El-Homsani continued.
He noted that identifying the financial burden of hosting refugees and foreign residents is essential to ensure these costs can be covered with potential aid from donor countries.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Egypt currently hosts over 900,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers from 58 nationalities.
As of 31 January 2025, UNHCR records show 630,958 Sudanese refugees, 144,557 Syrians, 39,765 Eritreans, and others from countries like Iraq, Yemen, and Somalia.
Meanwhile, Egyptian officials, along with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), estimate that over nine million unregistered migrants and refugees reside in Egypt.
The influx of refugees, driven by regional conflicts and economic instability, has placed additional strain on Egypt's already taxed infrastructure and public services.
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