UN Secretary-General Meets Sudanese Refugees in Cairo

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UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged parties to the conflict in Sudan to commit to a humanitarian ceasefire.

This came during a meeting of the UN Secretary-General with a group of Sudanese refugees during a Ramadan breakfast on Saturday, March 23, during a two-day visit to Egypt, according to a statement from the commission yesterday, Sunday.

Guterres emphasized the importance of peace and stability, especially during the blessed month of Ramadan, and urged all parties to the conflict in Sudan to commit to a ceasefire.

Guterres said, "At this moment, the international community must express to the Sudanese people the same solidarity that Sudanese have always shown to those who have long sought protection and safety within Sudan."

Guterress visit to Egypt came as part of a tradition he started when he served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to highlight Muslim communities undergoing crises. During his visit, he reiterated his urgent calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and cessation of violence, especially in Gaza and Sudan.

Dr. Hanan Hamdan, representative of the UNHCR to the Egyptian government and the Arab League, said, "Additional support for the Commission and the Egyptian government, at both central and local levels, remains essential, especially to continue ensuring comprehensive access to public services for everyone. The Sudanese crisis cannot become another forgotten crisis."

Mr. Guterress visit comes just weeks before the conflict in Sudan enters its first year. By mid-March, Egypt became the second largest host of Sudanese fleeing the ongoing conflict after Chad, with the number of Sudanese refugees as of March 17, 2024, exceeding 500,000 according to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Within 11 months, the number of registered Sudanese refugees with the Commission in Egypt has increased almost fivefold.