1. Should new arrivals without access to the internet/emails contact UNHCR through the Infoline for initial recording?
To keep the number of phone calls manageable, we would like to encourage all applicants who wish to newly register with UNHCR to preferably send an email to [email protected] with the following information:
- Full Name
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Family size (how many persons are accompanying you in Egypt?)
- Contact details (telephone number – e-Mail address)
- Date of arrival to Egypt
- Reason for contacting UNHCR
- Any specific needs / concerns.
Persons who have no access to e-mail can call the following numbers where their basic data will be collected and recorded for later registration:
- 01202873019
- 01202873033
2. I have a new registration appointment on during the mentioned period, what should I do?
If you have an appointment any time between 16 March – 11 April, your appointment will be rescheduled and you will receive an SMS informing you of your new date.
3. I have a family unity interview appointment on March 17/18/19, does this mean it has been cancelled?
If you have an appointment any time between 16 March – 11 April, your appointment will be rescheduled and you will receive an SMS informing you of your new date.
4. If my appointment has been rescheduled, how will I be informed of the new appointment?
If you have an appointment between 16 March and 11 April 2020 which has been rescheduled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you will be individually contacted by SMS and informed of a new interview date once the office has resumed regular operations.
Please check the UNHCR facebook pages (www.fb.com/refugeesegyptar) and (https://www.facebook.com/RefugeesEgypt/) to learn more about the situation and the services available at UNHCR.
5. My (renewal) appointment falls within the cited period, should I still approach the office?
In order to safeguard the health and well-being of refugees and humanitarian personnel working for them and in line with the precautionary measures the Government of Egypt has taken to contain the novel Coronavirus, UNHCR has rescheduled all registration interviews such as verification and document renewal, family unity interviews, closure and separation interviews until further notice.
Affected persons of concern whose appointments have been rescheduled as a result will be individually contacted and informed of a new interview date once the office has resumed regular operations.
If you are facing any particular problem because your card is expired, please share with us these problems via the advertised communication channels.
6. When should I expect to receive the SMS/phone call informing me of my rescheduled date?
UNHCR is carefully monitoring the development of the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations from health experts and the government of Egypt regarding measures to reduce the risk of spreading the disease. For the moment, however, UNHCR cannot predict when we will be able to resume our regular operations.
Please check the below UNHCR Facebook pages for information about a possible extesion of the suspension.
For Arabic:
(https://www.facebook.com/RefugeesEgyptAR/)
For English and other languages:
(https://www.facebook.com/RefugeesEgypt/)
7. I had an appointment scheduled during the period of reduced activities, but no one has contacted me to inform me of the new appointment date
Please be patient. UNHCR will contact all persons whose appointments were rescheduled as swiftly as possible following resumption of regular service. Unfortunately, the current situation does not yet allow regular service. Please check the below UNHCR Facebook pages for information about a possible extension of the suspension.
For Arabic:
(https://www.facebook.com/RefugeesEgyptAR/)
For English and other lanuages:(https://www.facebook.com/RefugeesEgypt/)
Please make sure to update your contact information with UNHCR to ensure that we can always reach you.
8. How can asylum-seekers carrying White Papers renew them?
With a view to mitigate the risk of spreading communicable diseases including the COVID-19 virus infection, UNHCR Egypt decided in accordance with advice from the WHO, the UNHCR Headquarters and the Government of Egypt to scale down its activities and to suspend until further notice all registration activities except for emergency cases.
For that reason, in order to avoid crowding at UNHCR premises, currently no documents can be renewed. Negotiations with the Egyptian authorities to lighten the handling of expired documents are ongoing.
Renewal of expired documents will be possible upon resumption of regular operations. We advise Persons of concern to follow UNHCR Egypt’s Facebook pages to stay updated about the resumption of regular services.
If you face any particular problems because of possessing expired documents, please report it to us.
9. I need a copy of my old card to be able to issue the residency card, can I get it from the UNHCR window?
With a view to mitigate the risk of spreading communicable diseases including the COVID-19 virus infection, UNHCR Egypt decided in accordance with advice from the WHO, the UNHCR Headquarters and the Government of Egypt to reduce its activities from 16 March – 11 April.
As a result, we are unable to issue any documents including copies of UNHCR cards to refugees and asylum-seekers during this period. Negotiations with the Egyptian authorities for a flexible approach towards persons with expired documents / expired residency are ongoing.
Persons of concern who wish to receive copies of their old UNHCR Registration cards will be able to submit their requests upon resumption of regular operations. We advise Persons of Concern to follow UNHCR Egypt’s Facebook pages to stay updated about the resumption of regular services.