Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly asserted on Monday 8/1/2024 the importance of documenting the number of refugees and immigrants in the country, whose number is estimated at 8-9 million from 133 countries.

The PM's remarks came during a meeting to review the benefits the Egyptian state provides for its guests of different nationalities.

During the meeting, Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar highlighted the health services offered to the refugees by the state.

According to Abdel-Ghaffar, the refugee population consists of 50.4 percent males and 49.6 percent females, with an average age of 35. In addition, most refugees in Egypt reside in five key governorates: Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Dakahlia, and Damietta, he said.

The minister added that 60 percent of refugees have resided in Egypt for a decade, and 6 percent have integrated into Egyptian society in the past 15 years.

Speaking of immigrants, Abdel-Ghaffar noted that 37 percent of the immigrant population is engaged in stable employment within established companies.

Similarly, the meeting also reviewed the total amount of aid the state has provided, and still provides, to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, whether by sending goods and relief aid or treating the injured.

According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Sudanese rank the highest among nationalities in Egypt (four million), followed by Syrians (1.5 million), Yemenis (one million) and Libyans (one million). These four nationalities, the IOM says, constitute 80 percent of international migrants presently living in Egypt.

Refugees and immigrants constitute, according to some international estimates, 8.7 percent of the country's population.

Al-Aharm