Over half of the world’s refugee population is made up of children. Many will spend their entire childhoods away from home, sometimes separated from their families.
In crisis and displacement situations, children, adolescents, and youth are at risk on several fronts: various forms of abuse, separation from their caregivers, neglect, violence, exploitation, trafficking, or military recruitment. This is why UNHCR is committed to ensuring that children are protected from harm and that their rights are upheld through the provision of psycho-social support and targeted programs to meet their specific protection and developmental needs.
In Egypt, close to 40 percent of the registered refugee and asylum-seeker population is made up of children. Youth (aged 15-24) also constitute a large part of population registered with UNHCR.
The number of vulnerable children with urgent protection needs continues to increase. The majority of this at-risk group are unaccompanied and separated children (roughly 4,500 to date) who have fled from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan. Typical risks include neglect, lack of appropriate alternative care, physical and verbal violence and abuse, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and child labor.
We work closely with communities to mitigate these risks and respond to them and provide tailored services.
Best Interests Assessments are essential elements of UNHCR’s general child protection work. They constitute a key intervention tool in identifying and addressing child protection needs and ensuring systematic referral of children for the services they require. These include psycho-social support, financial assistance, educational opportunities, family tracing, intensive follow-up provided by specialized child protection partners and alternative care arrangements supported by trained mentors within the community.