The Dangerous Meters: Ongoing Suffering of Sudanese Refugees in Front of the UNHCR – Egypt

Cairo – Sudan Horizon

Complaints of fraud and violence in front of the UNHCR office in Egypt are growing daily, particularly cases of robbery, assault, and threats affecting many asylum seekers.

The “Sudanhorizon” news site observed chaos and overcrowding in front of the UNHCR office in the Sixth of October area. Scammers are also increasingly present, offering to facilitate asylum services for money on the ground and on social media.
Furthermore, beggars and vendors are increasing, with many people sleeping on the pavements and waiting for long hours to complete registration and obtain the yellow card.

Imran, a Sudanese asylum seeker, was assaulted last Monday and lost his phone in a staged fight. Imran told “Sudan Horizon”: “I arrived at the UNHCR office before dawn and took my place in line. Later, three people came from behind the nearby buildings, and one of them claimed I had taken his place. They started a fight with me, called in their accomplices, and then beat me and stole my phone and all the money I had with me.” Imran expressed his sadness that none of the other Sudanese present intervened.

For Halima, her repeated visits to the UNHCR office to get an appointment have been fraught with danger. On her last visit, she was stopped by a group she couldn’t see due to the darkness immediately after getting off the transportation. They asked for her identification papers, and when she refused, they tried to snatch her bag. She began screaming for help, prompting the group, which she described as a gang, to flee. Her family warned her about the “dangerous meters” between the transportation stop and the UNHCR office, particularly before sunrise, when many service seekers feel unsafe.

In mid-July, Egyptian media reported the shooting death of a Sudanese woman in front of the UNHCR office on the Sixth of October. Investigations revealed that a dispute between the woman and a Sudanese man escalated into a physical altercation, ending with the man shooting the woman and fleeing.
To mitigate these risks, the UNHCR announced that it would start receiving individuals with appointments or those wishing to schedule appointments from 6 AM to ensure the presence of security and police officers for safety. Confirmations of appointments will be sent via SMS for both personal requests and requests through the information hotline.
In a statement obtained by “Sudanhorizon”, the UNHCR office emphasized that no asylum seekers or refugees should be present at the main UNHCR office on the Sixth of October City before 5 AM for the safety and security of refugees.

“Sudanhorizon” reporters listened to many asylum seekers’ complaints, including issues related to registration and appointment scheduling. The latest appointments given to new registrants were in June 2025. Many face challenges accessing the information line and speaking to relevant staff.

Due to the difficulty in registering, thousands of refugees have had to camp outside the UNHCR office for days, sleeping on the sidewalks in miserable conditions to secure an interview appointment. Families with children, the sick, and the elderly struggle to reach the information office despite priority being given to those with special needs. This has posed a significant challenge for Sudanese refugees, compounded by the prevalence of service and registration sales offices on social media charging money for services. Additionally, Sudanese refugees in Egypt do not receive adequate assistance from the UNHCR and other UN agencies, depriving them of financial support, basic services, education, and healthcare.