“Do we have any right to quality healthcare, or is it only for others? We feel like we are left behind…” Sulaifa’s voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes filled with quiet resilience and deep sorrow. A Sudanese refugee and a single mother, she had fled to Egypt after conflict shattered her home, taking the life of her husband and leaving her alone to care for her four children.
I met Sulaifa during a community refugee meeting while working with a humanitarian NGO in Egypt. She sat among other women, each carrying their own stories of struggle and survival. But when she spoke, her words echoed the unspoken fears of many. She had escaped war, seeking safety, only to find herself in another battle – one for dignity, health and survival.
Like many refugee women, she found herself caught in a system that promised care but often turned its back on those who needed it most. Access to quality healthcare felt like a privilege rather than a basic right. Was she not worthy of the same care as others? Her question lingered in the air, unanswered. And in that silence, the weight of exclusion was felt by all.
A growing refugee population facing healthcare barriers
Egypt has long been home to a diverse population of refugees and asylum-seekers. It is considered one of the most significant places of refuge throughout world history, particularly for people from Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Eritrea, and Yemen.
As of August 2024, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCER), over 800,000 refugees and asylum-seekers are registered in Egypt. This is nearly three times the number from a year earlier, due to escalating conflicts across its borders. This number does not include the thousands of undocumented migrants who also seek refuge and stability in the country. Many of these refugees and migrants live in densely populated urban areas, with limited access to resources and often in poor conditions, which further exacerbates their vulnerability to health risks.
Refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in Egypt face high costs, legal barriers, and limited healthcare access. Language and cultural challenges worsen untreated conditions, while an overstretched system and lack of insurance make secondary and tertiary care inaccessible.
Although primary healthcare services in Egypt are sometimes accessible through UNHCR and International Organization for Migration (IOM) partnerships, legal restrictions and lack of formal integration into the health system often leave refugees and migrants with limited access to comprehensive care. For example, accessing treatment for chronic illnesses or mental health services is particularly difficult for refugees. Additionally, language differences and a lack of culturally sensitive healthcare options create additional barriers. For instance, refugees who speak different languages may struggle to communicate with healthcare providers, leading to misunderstandings or inadequate care.
Current policies and challenges & constraints
UNHCR has partnered with Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) to provide free primary healthcare services to registered refugees and asylum-seekers. This collaboration focuses on maternal and child health, immunizations, and emergency care through public health facilities in urban areas. While these efforts are significant, chronic health conditions and specialized care remain largely unaddressed.
In addition, refugees in remote areas face severe healthcare challenges due to poor infrastructure, long travel distances, and financial barriers. Unlike in urban centers where there is some UNHCR and MOHP support, rural refugees struggle with inadequate services and a lack of inclusive policies. A 2024 WHO report highlights that under-resourced rural healthcare facilities further limit access to essential treatment. Despite WHO initiatives, significant gaps in specialized and secondary care persist, putting many refugees at serious health risk.
It’s also important to acknowledge Egypt’s own constraints. The country hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa while dealing with its own economic and healthcare struggles. Expanding services to refugees requires financial and structural resources that are already stretched thin.
Way forward
Yet, there are cost-effective solutions that could be explored, such as integrating refugees into existing healthcare programs rather than creating parallel systems. More in general, a comprehensive approach is needed that includes expanding healthcare services beyond primary care, integrating refugees into national health programs, and enhancing support for specialized and mental health services. A refugee-inclusive health policy, investment in rural healthcare, and strengthened partnerships between humanitarian organizations and Egypt’s health sector could bridge these gaps.
Sulaifa’s story is not an isolated one. Like her, thousands of refugees in Egypt continue to wait for answers. Until Egypt’s healthcare system becomes more inclusive, their struggle for dignity and survival will persist.
During our outreach visit to Karkar, a rural village near the Sudanese border, our team met with displaced Sudanese families who fled the conflict seeking safety and dignity. Many have lost everything and are now rebuilding their lives while striving to regain access to basic human rights.