European Union to give Egypt €20m in Sudan war refugee support

The EU announced an aid package for Egypt as Sudanese refugees flee violence in their country

2 min read

19 June, 2023

High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell (left) was in Cairo for a two-day visit over the weekend [Getty]

The European Union has decided to give Egypt 20 million euros (US$21.8 million) to help it cope with an influx of Sudanese refugees fleeing violence in their country.

The funding was announced on Sunday by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, who was in Cairo over the weekend.

"Egypt is playing an important role as host country and showing generosity to Sudanese refugees fleeing the country," he wrote on Twitter.

"The EU will therefore provide as immediate reaction additional €20 million to support Egypt in addressing this new refugee crisis," he added.

Egypt is playing an important role as host country and showing generosity to Sudanese refugees fleeing the country.

The EU will therefore provide as immediate reaction additional €20 million to support Egypt in addressing this new refugee crisis. pic.twitter.com/guFj4z82Zq
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) June 18, 2023

Sudan has been gripped by conflict between rival military factions since 15 April, while Egypt continues to reel under a financial and economic crisis that looks only to be worsening.

In late May, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid said the number of migrants and refugees in the country had increased to nine million after the arrival of tens of thousands from neighbouring Sudan.

But earlier this month Cairo announced that Sudanese wishing to cross the border must obtain a visa, justifying the move as a crackdown on "illegal activities" including fraud.

It said that the new requirements were not designed to "prevent or limit" the entry of Sudanese nationals, but rather to stop "illegal activities by individuals and groups on the Sudanese side of the border, who forged entry visas" for profit.

On Sunday, Sudan's warring generals agreed a new 72-hour truce but other truces have broken down before.

While in Cairo, Borrell also discussed with Egyptian officials Israel’s ongoing violations against the Palestinians in occupied territories, the Russian-Ukrainian war and other issues.