Emergency response to the crisis in Sudan
UNICEF Egypt provides humanitarian assistance to families and children fleeing the conflict in Sudan
- Available in:
- English
- العربية
According to UNHCR, currently in Egypt, there are 500,000 Sudanese and 8,827 individuals of other nationalities who have crossed into Egypt from Sudan since the crisis began in April 2023.
In close coordination with the Government of Egypt, the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC), and the UN in Egypt, UNICEF is providing immediate support to vulnerable children and families affected by the crisis. This critical work is made possible with generous contributions from the European Union, the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM), and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Together, we are delivering life-saving assistance and protection to displaced Sudanese children and families in Egypt. Our continued collaboration and resources are vital to help meet their basic needs and rights during this humanitarian emergency.
UNICEF-supported interventions
Child Protection
- UNICEF, in partnership with NGOs, has established five Child-friendly spaces in the Aswan governorate, including one in the Karkar bus station. These spaces have benefited 7,059 individuals, including 6,259 Sudanese children and 800 other nationalities, through Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) interventions facilitated by highly qualified Egyptian and Sudanese professionals.
- Additionally, four mobile teams have been set up (one in Aswan, two in Greater Cairo, and one in Alexandria). These teams provided MHPSS services during Cash Assistance distribution days to 2,143 children.
- In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), UNICEF has improved ten existing family clubs and established eight new ones, totaling 18. Currently operational in Aswan, Giza, Cairo, and Alexandria, these clubs offer MHPSS services specifically for Sudanese children.
- Five new specialized service hubs have been launched in Aswan, Giza, Cairo, Alexandria, and Damietta, complementing existing ones. These hubs provided speech therapy sessions and psychosocial services (including psychiatric care for severe cases) and facilitated referrals to cash assistance for 363 children with 350 Sudanese children. Given the high demand, UNICEF plans to sustain these specialized services beyond December 2023.
- Caseworkers have conducted 4,500 home visits (covering 1,500 families) to assess the children's situations in the Aswan and Alexandria governorates. The caseworkers ensured that needy families were referred to cash assistance programs during these visits. For those already receiving cash assistance, caseworkers-maintained follow-ups to address any additional child-related needs.
Health and Nutrition
- Close to 40,000 children were vaccinated against polio and 7,000 against measles. Primary health care services were provided to 1,200 women and children.
- UNICEF supported the capacity building of 46 health workers and 5 supervisors in 16 health care facilities of Cairo and Giza governates on digital health and reporting on nutrition screening results.
- UNICEF supports 30 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in various governorates to enhance the quality of screening services. As of now, 451 mothers and 3,000 children have been screened.
- UNICEF is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) to improve the screening services in these 30 PHCs by providing financial and technical assistance for better implementation of digital health (DHIS2) and supportive supervision. UNICEF is also partnering with MoHP, the National Nutrition Institute (NNI), academia, and other UN agencies to create national protocols for waste management and referral pathways.
WASH
- UNICEF and WHO experts jointly assessed water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions in 11 healthcare facilities in Aswan.
- Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) supplies and water testing kits were provided to 11 PHC facilities in Aswan. Around 40 technical staff for MoHP in Aswan were trained in IPC and water testing.
- Results achieved under WASH include 14 mobile toilets, 27 fixed toilets rehabilitated, 50,000 hygiene and dignity kits distributed to Sudanese, 225,000 people had access to sufficient and quality safe water for drinking and domestic needs, and over 350,000 people reached sanitation services.
Education
- Education Cash Grants and Learning Materials: UNICEF and its partners provided education cash grants to kindergarten students, benefiting 8,778 students. In addition, 2,143 new arrival Sudanese children were reached with access to education and individual learning materials.
- Catch-up Classes: UNICEF, in collaboration with partners, conducted face-to-face and online catch-up classes using the Sudan curriculum, benefiting 1,000 Sudanese students across greater Cairo. These classes were facilitated by 160 teachers from the Sudan Teacher Association.
- Teacher Training and Learning Spaces: A total of 161 teachers received a comprehensive 21-day training covering five key areas: active teaching, classroom management, evaluation, blended teaching, teaching skills for children with disabilities and empowerment of the scientific content of each specialty subject. This training, carried out in partnership with Ain Shams University and the Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MoETE), aimed to enhance teaching methodologies. Additionally, UNICEF established 24 new learning spaces in five districts within Aswan Governorate, targeting new arrival children. This initiative provided recovery programs focusing on foundational literacy, numeracy, life skills, and integration programs, benefiting 1,000 Sudanese children aged between 5 and 18.
Social Protection
To date, the UNICEF and WFP Emergency Cash Assistance programme in Greater Cairo, Aswan and Alexandria has reached more than 72,459 individuals, who have been enrolled in the programme. Children under 18 years old represented 43 percent.
Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)
UNICEF is actively supporting the MoHP in strengthening accountability to affected populations for the Sudan crisis response by introducing three dedicated seats for Sudanese agents in the MoHP call center. These agents will respond to calls with questions and inquiries from the Sudanese communities in Egypt. The call center agents are currently receiving training; the service will be activated in early 2024.
RapidPro interactive platform registered 1,600 Sudanese, providing them with unique medical numbers for streamlined healthcare access. The MoHP 100-health initiative's mobile units also delivered health screening services to Sudanese individuals across Greater Cairo, showcasing a commitment to inclusive healthcare.
Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)
Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), as embraced by UNICEF, is a crucial principle in humanitarian work that focuses on ensuring aid organizations (including UNICEF) remain accountable to the individuals they serve. This people-centered approach constitutes UNICEF’s commitment to primarily ensure the active participation of affected populations—those individuals or communities who are directly impacted by crises, such as conflicts, natural disasters, or other emergencies. These populations are central to the decision-making processes concerning the aid and support provided to them, ensuring their needs and feedback are integral to program planning and implementation. Information sharing and communication is another critical element of AAP, involving the transparent and open sharing of information about aid programs, their goals, and outcomes with those affected. Additionally, effective mechanisms for feedback and complaints are essential, allowing these populations a safe and accessible way to voice their concerns or suggestions regarding the assistance they receive. Finally, all interventions under AAP are conducted with the utmost respect for the affected individuals' dignity, culture, and rights, aligning with UNICEF's commitment to protecting and supporting children's rights in various challenging contexts. Through AAP, UNICEF ensures that its humanitarian efforts are effective, respectful, and responsive to the unique needs of children and their communities in crisis situations.
Situation reports
Voices from Sudan