President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and stressed on the importance of dealing with refugee flows and all forms of displacement, through a comprehensive approach that addresses the roots of the crisis which is fundamentally related to development, security, and political stability.
Egypt as a destination for refugees abides by international charters and does not isolate refugees in camps or shelters, Sisi said during the meeting which was attended by head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Abbas Kamel.
Despite difficult economic conditions, Egypt has not received any international financial support to help withstand the pressures resulting from hosting refugees across a large number of its governorates he said, adding that refugees in Egypt live normal lives alongside native citizens.
The president hailed cooperation between Egypt and the UNHCR, which has been going on for decades, Spokesperson for the presidency Bassam Rady said.
Sisi showed his appreciation for the international efforts exerted by the UNHCR in light of the escalation of the global refugee crisis, adding that the meeting discussed ways of handling illegal migration and refugee displacement.
Grandi stressed the UNHCR’s willingness to strengthen cooperation with Egypt, pointing out its pivotal role at regional and international levels in this regard. He expressed appreciation for the efforts exerted by Cairo to host large numbers of refugees of different nationalities and treat them well, as well as the efforts made to counter illegal migration through Egyptian coasts.
Grandi also noted the significant increase in the number of refugees recently as a result of the escalation of crises across the world. He stressed that reaching solutions to existing conflicts represents the first step to addressing the roots of the refugee crisis.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
