For Refugees & Asylum-seekers from Sub-Saharan Africa , Iraq & Yemen
arrested and detained for this reason decreased significantly . From January to December 2017 , 136 individuals were arrested , 75 per cent of whom were from sub-Saharan Africa . In 2018 , it is anticipated that the scale of irregular migration from the North Coast will remain similar to 2017 .
Strengthening national child protection as well as Sexual and Gender-based Violence ( SGBV ) prevention and response capacities continue to be a key priority for protection partners in Egypt . In 2017 , the inter-agency response was strengthened through the identification of key priorities and the review of a simplified interagency referral pathway . The UNHCR-led SGBV subsector working group developed inter-agency Standard Operating Procedures ( SOPs ) for prevention of and response to SGBV in 2018 , ensuring a timely quality inter-sectoral response and case management .
Through the Child Protection sub-working group ( CPSWG ) co-chaired by UNHCR and UNICEF , coordination and case management mechanisms based on joint Standard Operating Procedures and the updated mapping of services were strengthened and ensured a harmonization of child protection approaches and standards among child protection actors . Unaccompanied and separated children ( UASC ), from the Horn of Africa in particular , have constituted one of the largest groups of asylumseeker and refugee children with heightened protection concerns in Egypt in the past three years . By the end of 2017 , 3,695 UASC registered with UNHCR , 2,686 of whom were from sub-Saharan Africa , Iraq or Yemen . Access to quality and timely best interest procedures was advanced to address these rising needs and more than 2,500 children benefited directly from the best interest process in 2017 . Other key interventions included cash-based assistance to mitigate protection risks , life skills camps , and recreational activities . In parallel , capacity-building programmes were developed to enhance the skills , knowledge , and practices of national and international child protection actors , such as the national child protection committees and local community-based associations ( CBAs ) in Alexandria , Damietta , and Greater Cairo .
Under the chair of the IAWG , an inter-agency taskforce for unaccompanied children in Egypt was formed in August 2017 , in light of the increasing numbers of new arrivals of unaccompanied children in Egypt . The objective was to specifically address the existing protection gaps for this vulnerable group of children and to identify coordinated assistance support by all partners to ensure timely assistance for all vulnerable unaccompanied children ( UAC ) and in this way mitigate their protection risks . The Taskforce completed a mapping of assistance for all registered and unregistered UAC and , under the Child Protection Sub-Working Group ( CPSWG ), ensured the development of a communication plan to ensure that information on available services and entry points was broadly circulated in the communities .
Outreach activities in urban settings for refugee women , men , boys , and girls as well as for impacted host communities , were conducted through various channels including through regular community meetings , established community and family centres , UNHCR Egypt ’ s infoline , SMS messages and social media . Community projects continued with a view to strengthen national capacities and to promote coexistence between refugees living in the community and impacted host communities .
Protection partners have continued to address the needs of those affected by mixed migration and to identify solutions . UNHCR and partners have visited detention facilities in the North Coast providing food , non-food items ( NFIs ), and hygiene kits , in addition to medical , legal , and psychosocial support . Upon release , legal and counselling services were made available in Cairo , Alexandria , and other governorates . UNHCR has been allowed to use iris scanners in detention centres on the North Coast where individuals have been arrested for irregular migration to verify UNHCR registration status on the spot and to facilitate their release .
In addition to detentions related to maritime incidents , UNHCR continues to receive reports about the arrest of foreign nationals who attempted to cross the land-border from Salloum to Libya . According to the information received , 385 foreign nationals were arrested in the course of 2017 , of whom 96 per cent were nationals of sub-Saharan African countries . All arrested individuals registered with UNHCR Egypt were released and allowed to regularize their stay . Access to the detention centres in Salloum and Matrouh remains a challenge , and UNHCR will continue to advocate for access to information on arrests and to detainees in this area .
In terms of irregular entry , the number of those arrested at the southern border has slightly increased . Approximately 400 foreign nationals were arrested and detained in 2017 , the majority of whom are Sudanese . In 2018 , no increase is anticipated . UNHCR has no access to detention facilities at cities located at the southern border ; nevertheless , the agency will continue to advocate for access to detainees to assess their need for international protection .
Resettlement continues to be a protection tool for addressing the protection needs of the populations in Egypt . Some refugees from sub-Saharan Africa countries face acute protection challenges in Egypt especially female-headed households which may face additional risks based on their gender . In 2017 , UNHCR submitted the cases of 1,395 African , Iraqi and Yemeni refugees for resettlement consideration , and 997 refugees departed to resettlement countries .
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