The United States has provided more than $24 million to the United Nations World Food Programme to support food assistance for over 150,000 vulnerable refugees and crisis-affected people in Egypt.
The funding will enable WFP to continue delivering monthly food support to the most food-insecure refugee families. It will also help restore assistance levels that were reduced in November because of funding shortages.
Egypt currently hosts more than one million registered refugees and asylum seekers. Most are Sudanese nationals who fled conflict, displacement and severe hunger in Sudan.
Many refugee families are struggling with rising food prices, high living costs and limited employment opportunities. Newly arrived households are particularly vulnerable as they work to rebuild their lives with few resources.
WFP assistance helps families access sufficient and nutritious food while reducing pressure on household budgets. Monitoring by the organisation indicates that refugees receiving support have better food consumption levels than those who do not receive assistance.
The programme also benefits communities hosting refugees by directing food assistance through local markets. This approach supports businesses, strengthens local economies and contributes to stability in areas experiencing increased demand for services.
WFP Egypt Country Director and Representative Rawad Halabi said economic pressures had made international assistance more important than ever. For many refugee families, WFP support remains their primary source of food security.
The latest United States contribution reflects continued international support for people affected by the conflict in Sudan. However, humanitarian needs in Egypt continue to grow as inflation and the rising cost of essential goods place additional pressure on refugees and host communities.
