Sudanese Child Refugees in Egypt Face Severe Abuse Crisis

Approximately 400,000 Sudanese child refugees living in Egypt are experiencing a crisis of poverty, trauma, and violence. Between 50% and 70% of these children are currently out of school due to extreme poverty and funding cuts to humanitarian aid. This lack of educational access has left youth vulnerable to drug abuse, gang recruitment, and sexual exploitation.

Many children are forced into labor on farms and in factories, where they face physical and sexual abuse. These conditions are compounded by poor living environments in marginalized neighborhoods of Cairo and the threat of daily deportation raids conducted by Egyptian police. Support workers and psychologists report an increase in self-harm and suicide among refugee youth struggling with war trauma and a lack of mental healthcare.

Families have reported that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has left requests for safe accommodation unanswered, leaving many without basic protections or stability.