Author
Current Practice:
There are no camps or designated accommodations for hosting refugees or asylum seekers in Egypt. Refugees and migrants live in urban communities alongside Egyptian citizens, which makes them reliant on the private sector to secure housing. However, many of them face major challenges related to the high cost of rent, especially in areas where refugee communities are concentrated. One report indicated that some landlords exploit the housing needs of refugees by raising rents unjustifiably, particularly in the absence of a legal framework that protects their housing rights, which increases their economic hardship.[1]
As the primary partner of the Egyptian government in providing support to refugees and asylum seekers, UNHCR offers limited financial assistance to the most vulnerable families to help them cover the costs of housing and living. However, this assistance remains insufficient to meet the increasing needs, especially in light of rising costs of living and rent.
Among the challenges faced by refugees is the difficulty to obtain residence permits, which further increases the fragility of their legal status and affects their ability to access basic services. Reports have noted that some Sudanese refugees in Egypt suffer from harsh humanitarian conditions, including high housing costs and soaring living expenses, prompting some families to consider returning to their home country despite ongoing risks.[2]
As for groups most at risk, there are no designated housing facilities or state-funded housing programmes for these categories. These groups rely on support from non-governmental organizations and community initiatives to secure temporary shelter or financial aid to help with housing costs. In November 2020, the Ministry of Social Solidarity inaugurated the first shelter in Egypt for victims of human trafficking, in cooperation with the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Migration and Trafficking in Persons.[3] The shelter aims to provide social, health, and psychological care to victims and works to support their integration into society.
In summary, refugees and migrants in Egypt face significant challenges in securing adequate housing due to high rental costs and the absence of direct government support. They rely heavily on support from international and local organizations to meet their housing and living needs.
2024 Asylum Law:
The Egyptian Asylum Law outlines refugees’ housing and residence rights, while allowing restrictions in cases the state deems necessary for national security or public order.
Article 22 states that the refugee enjoys freedom of movement and the right to choose their place of residence, but is required to notify the Permanent Committee for Refugee Affairs of their permanent address and to report any change, in accordance with the provisions of the law and the executive regulations. However, this freedom is not absolute. Article 10 of the Law imposes restrictions that may be applied to refugees in exceptional cases such as times of war, counter-terrorism efforts, or in the event of serious circumstances that affect national security, in which case, the competent committee may take measures and procedures it deems necessary to control refugee movement or regulate their residence.
In the context of housing or shelter provision, Article 37 imposes strict penalties on any person who accommodates or employs an asylum seeker without notifying the relevant police station. The penalty is no less than six months of imprisonment or a fine ranging between 50,000 and 100,000 Egyptian pounds. This reflects a surveillance-oriented approach to housing and adds an additional barrier to securing stable accommodation. Instead of housing being a normal contractual matter between landlord and tenant, it becomes subject to security and administrative requirements that may lead landlords to refuse to rent to refugees.
[1] The Independent Arabia, ‘Egypt’s housing rents soar, with refugees most impacted’, October 2024, available here
[2] Sudan Justice Hub, ‘Sudanese refugees in Egypt face harsh conditions’, April 2024, available here
[3] Ministry of Social Solidarity | Launching Egypt’s first shelter in Egypt for victims of human trafficking, available here