UNHCR Calls on Egyptians to Protect Ethiopian Refugees

Monday, 10 June 2013

Press Release

UNHCR Calls on Egyptians to Protect Ethiopian Refugees

UNHCR Regional office in Cairo has been receiving several complaints from Ethiopian refugees reporting physical and verbal assaults by some Egyptian nationals against them, after the recent escalation of the dispute regarding the Nile dam project (Renaissance Dam), and finding difficulties in receiving police support to stop such attacks.

Some Ethiopian refugees shared with UNHCR additional difficulties related to accessing services, including health care at some hospitals because of their nationality. They added that some of them were kicked out of their jobs by their employers, or from their apartments by their landlords.

UNHCR is concerned about these allegations and calls upon the Egyptian public opinion to protect the physical integrity and the other rights of Ethiopian refugees in accordance with the international obligations of Egypt and the traditional hospitality of the Egyptian people that is clearly shown nowadays in the great support towards Syrian refugees.

It is of paramount importance that all differentiate between the political dispute with the Ethiopian government and the treatment of Ethiopian refugees, who fled their country to seek sanctuary in Egypt.

There are 2,608 Ethiopians registered with UNHCR as refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt.

Mohamed Dayri

UNHCR Regional Representative in Egypt

–Full document In JPG

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