Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Sunday urged the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) to secure more international support to help Egypt bear the increasing burdens of hosting refugees, during a meeting with High Commissioner Filippo Grandi on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
During the meeting, Abdelatty expressed appreciation for the existing cooperation with the UNHCR in supporting Egypt’s efforts to provide protection and care for refugees and asylum seekers. He pointed to the growing burdens resulting from hosting and integrating them into Egyptian society and called on the UNHCR to intensify its efforts with donors and international partners to bridge existing funding gaps, in line with the principle of shared responsibilities.
The talks also addressed the crisis in Gaza, with Abdelatty stressing the importance of stopping the violations that civilians are subjected to due to Israeli aggression. He reiterated Egypt’s rejection of attempts to “liquidate the Palestinian cause” and any scenarios aimed at displacing the Palestinian people from their land. He stressed the need to continue pressuring Israel to reach a ceasefire agreement, stop targeting civilians and civilian facilities, and allow the urgent entry of humanitarian aid.
The two officials also discussed the latest developments in Sudan. The foreign minister outlined Egypt’s efforts to provide all forms of support to the Sudanese people and to continue working to end the crisis in a way that preserves the security, sovereignty, and unity of Sudan and protects its national institutions.
For his part, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees expressed his high appreciation for Egypt’s efforts and its active role in dealing with regional crises, describing it as an “essential and indispensable pillar” for achieving security and stability in the region. He affirmed his keenness to continue constructive cooperation with Egypt to support its efforts on various levels.
