File Photo: Monira Mohamed, a refugee who left Sudan after the civil war that erupted, UNHCR
In an official statement, UNHCR said that only the most vulnerable cases will continue to receive financial support.
It added that families who will no longer receive assistance would be notified via SMS sent to their registered phone numbers.
The agency also announced that vulnerability assessment interviews are on hold until further notice.
Moreover, UNHCR revealed that, until now, it has received only 26 percent of the $137.7 million required for its refugee response in Egypt for 2025.
The ongoing crisis in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 with the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces militia, has widened this funding gap.
According to the Egyptian government, approximately 1.5 million Sudanese have fled to Egypt since the start of the war in Sudan.
As of April 2025, UNHCR has registered 691,000 Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers, with an average of 24,000 new Sudanese arrivals per month to Egypt.
The latest UNHCR Egypt-Emergency Response Update, published last week, reported that the total number of registered refugees and asylum seekers in the country has reached 958,000.
Those refugees and asylum seekers primarily come from Sudan, Syria, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, with smaller numbers from Somalia and Yemen.
Furthermore, the agency announced that, on 30 April, it had to close its Zamalek registration centre in Cairo due to budget constraints.
This centre had previously served Syrian asylum seekers. As of 1 May, all Syrian refugees seeking registration and protection services were asked to approach the UNHCR Reception Centre in 6 October City, Giza.
The Giza reception centre currently handles an average of 3,000 refugees and asylum seekers daily, most of whom are Sudanese.
Registration services for Syrians are now integrated with those of other nationalities. However, previously set appointment dates will be respected, and case closure requests related to voluntary returns to Syria will be prioritized.
As of 30 April, UNHCR Egypt reported 136,442 officially registered Syrian refugees.
Since the political transition in Syria in December 2024, the number of Syrians approaching UNHCR offices in Cairo and Alexandria to request the closure of their asylum cases has increased significantly.
As of 5 May, over 19,700 Syrians have submitted their requests, indicating an intention to return to Syria.
In addition, 12,520 individuals have been recorded as spontaneous departures, reflecting a growing perception among Syrian refugees that return may now be a viable option.
UNHCR urges refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt to ensure their contact details are updated, particularly if they have recently changed their phone numbers.
Updates can be made through the UNHCR Infoline (0227390400), UNHCR reception centres, or partner organizations.
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