UNHCR Launches Winter Assistance Programme for Refugees

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has launched the winter assistance programme for 151,130 vulnerable refugees in Egypt this week, of whom at least 18 per cent are children under 18.

The unconditional cash assistance of a minimum of EGP 600 per person is an additional grant disbursed to refugees assessed to be in need of winter assistance through post offices across the country, primarily in the three governorates of Greater Cairo, Alexandria and Damietta. With the support of UNICEF, UNHCR is also disbursing grants to 4,100 unaccompanied and separated children through its partner, Caritas.

This one-time grant ensures that all vulnerable refugees can cover their immediate needs including warm clothes and blankets, which will have a positive impact on their overall well-being.

Vulnerable refugees who are entitled to receive the grant have been identified by UNHCR or its partners through vulnerability assessment and cover all nationalities of refugees in Egypt including Syrians, Sudanese, Somalis, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Iraqis and Yemenis.

In 2017, 129,000 refugees benefited from the grant. On average, 73 per cent of the funds were allocated towards winter expenses, namely clothes, blankets and heating while 27 per cent covered other pressing needs including rent, health and education.

UNHCR Egypt’s work is made possible by the generous contributions of Austria, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, RDPP NA, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States of America, as well as private donors from Australia, Korea, Germany, Spain, Japan, Italy, and Sweden.