Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has requested a "clear mechanism of cooperation" between the Egyptian government and development partners to support his country and share the financial burden of hosting nine million migrants and refugees, which reportedly cost Cairo about 10 billion dollars a year. He made this request during the EU-Egypt Investment Conference, co-organized by the EU and the Egyptian cabinet on June 29-30.

The prime minister reiterated this need in a meeting with Anne Bjerde, the World Bank’s managing director for operations, on the sidelines of the second and final day of the conference. According to a cabinet statement released after the meeting, Bjerde acknowledged the financial strain on the Egyptian government from hosting refugees and migrants, as well as providing for their healthcare, education, and housing.

Also read: EU pledges €7.4 billion in aid to Egypt as it seeks to curb migration

Refugees from 133 countries hosted by Egypt

Madbouly’s observations echoed a statement made by the Egyptian foreign ministry during World Refugee Day on June 20, which stressed the need to intensify international efforts to guarantee the fair sharing of costs and responsibilities towards refugees.

Egypt hosts refugees from 133 countries, with Sudanese citizens constituting the largest group (four million), followed by Syrians (1.5 million), Yemenis (one million), and Libyans (one million).

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 80 percent of refugees living in Egypt belong to these four nationalities.

The Egyptian government has recently allowed foreigners residing in Egypt without a stay permit to regularize their position provided they are hosted by an Egyptian national and pay 1,000 dollars in administrative expenses.

Those who have failed to comply by June 30 will not be allowed access to services provided by public institutions to foreign residents.

Also read: Egypt forcibly deporting Sudanese refugees, Amnesty says