Some nine million immigrants and refugees have fled their countries seeking a safe haven in Egypt, where they are granted all basic services and freedom of movement just like Egyptians, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement Sunday.
Egypt rejects the idea of detention centers or refugee camps, the Ministry stressed in its statement, which is released on International Migrants Day.
Indeed, immigrants are the most vulnerable segments in some societies due to mistreatment and hard access to basic services, the Ministry acknowledged.
However, they remain a source of development; using their skills to boost economies of host countries, as well as sending money to their families back in their homelands, thus serving as a source of income for their countries also, read the statement.
Honoring its international commitments, Egypt has been adopting a comprehensive approach that takes into consideration the developmental aspect as it deals with immigrants on its land, the statement said, noting that Cairo is well aware of the need to address the root causes that lead to illegal immigration.
It touched upon efforts to rehabilitate young immigrants and hone their skills to be able to meet demands of the labor markets inside Egypt and abroad.
Immigration should be an option and not out of necessity, the statement stressed.
Egypt, the statement said, has established a national mechanism and outlined legislation to counter illegal immigration and human trafficking.
Every year on December 18, the world marks International Migrants Day – a day set to recognize the important contributions of migrants, while highlighting the challenges they face.
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