The World Food Programme (WFP) in Egypt received a first-of-its-kind contribution from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, totalling $1.4 million, to support individuals who fled violence in Sudan.
The Swiss contribution will enable the WFP to continue providing cash assistance to nearly 6,000 Sudanese individuals living in Aswan, Cairo, and Alexandria for a year.
Praveen Agrawal, the WFP Representative and Country Director in Egypt, stated, “Through this timely and opportune assistance, we can reach people within a matter of minutes, providing them with cash to meet their essential needs through a network of over 140,000 retailers.” Agrawal further added, “Switzerland’s assistance arrives at a critical time and will allow us to continue to provide this vital assistance to Sudanese across the country.”
From the beginning of the crisis in April until the end of October 2023, the WFP has supported over 277,000 conflict-affected individuals who fled Sudan and sought refuge in Egypt. The aid includes ready-to-eat food parcels delivered upon arrival at the Argeen and Qustul border crossings in Aswan, as well as cash assistance in Aswan, Cairo, and Alexandria.
Yvonne Baumann, the Swiss Ambassador to Egypt, mentioned, “I thank the WFP team for their continued dedication and commitment to improving the lives of recently arrived Sudanese individuals and families. Switzerland remains committed to engaging with its partners to improve the resilience and well-being of people.”
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN agency coordinating the regional emergency response plan in Sudan, approximately 337,000 individuals (330,000 Sudanese nationals and 7,000 from other nationalities) crossed the Sudanese-Egyptian border by mid-October. Those fleeing the crisis continue to struggle to meet their basic needs and access income-generating opportunities due to inflation and economic instability across the country.
