Ashraf AboArafe
Cairo, 20 June 2025 – On the occasion of World Refugee Day, H.E. Mr. Salih Mutlu Şen, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Egypt, emphasized the urgent need for fair and equitable burden-sharing in addressing global humanitarian crises.
“The burden is not equally shared within the international community,” Ambassador Şen stated. “International, regional, and bilateral cooperation is key to achieving a just distribution of responsibilities.”
He recalled that the Palestinian refugee crisis remains the largest and most protracted in modern history, having begun with the forced displacement of Palestinians in 1948 and 1967.
“Let us not forget that 1.5 million out of five million registered Palestinian refugees still live in 58 refugee camps across the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and East Jerusalem,” he noted.
“The right of return for our Palestinian brothers and sisters cannot be revoked. They must return to their homeland under an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
The Ambassador reiterated Türkiye’s strong and unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspirations for peace, justice, and freedom. He also stressed Ankara’s firm opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, welcoming Egypt’s position and vision, which he described as being supported by the Islamic world and many other nations.
Global Crises and Rising Displacement
Highlighting broader global concerns, Ambassador Şen pointed to the rising number of displaced persons worldwide, caused by terrorism, conflict, civil wars, poverty, hunger, and economic hardship.
He noted that the number of refugees and internally displaced persons had doubled from 60 million to 122.1 million in the past decade.
“What is happening in Gaza today deeply wounds the conscience of humanity and violates the very foundations of international humanitarian law,” he said.
“The forced displacement of civilians and the killing of tens of thousands – including women, children, and the elderly – must not be tolerated.”
Türkiye’s Role and Commitments
Ambassador Şen highlighted that Türkiye currently hosts around 2.9 million refugees, including 2.7 million Syrians, making it one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world.
He reported a steady increase in voluntary returns of Syrian refugees, with over 273,000 individuals returning voluntarily over the past six months, contingent on improved conditions in Syria.
He emphasized Türkiye’s strict commitment to the principle of non-refoulement, asserting:
“No one is forced to return. All repatriations are voluntary, safe, and dignified.”
He also outlined the success of Türkiye’s “Pioneer Migrant” initiative, which allows Syrians to visit their hometowns before making a final return decision. Over 30,000 Syrians have participated in the program to date, drawing interest from several EU countries, including Germany and the Netherlands.
Funding Shortfalls and International Inequity
Ambassador Şen raised concern over significant funding gaps in humanitarian aid.
“While humanitarian needs have nearly doubled since 2015, resources remain at 2015 levels,” he said, warning that this trend threatens the effectiveness of aid operations, including those led by the UNHCR.
According to the latest UNHCR data, 73% of displaced people are hosted in low- and middle-income countries, and 67% remain in neighboring states, reflecting a disproportionate burden on certain regions.
Despite recent cuts in UN agency operations in Türkiye, the country continues to provide essential services such as healthcare, education, and access to the labor market for refugees.
“The international community must fulfill its responsibilities in the face of increasing global humanitarian crises,” he stated.
“Our collective response must be guided by a principled approach rooted in justice, human rights, and international law.”
Recognition of Egypt’s Role
The Ambassador also commended Egypt for its significant efforts in hosting refugees.
According to UNHCR data, Egypt currently hosts 941,625 refugees from 61 countries, including the largest population of Sudanese refugees fleeing war. Egyptian authorities estimate that the total number of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in the country exceeds 10 million.
“We see that Egypt, like Türkiye, adopts a humanitarian and responsible approach to migration – not merely a security-based one,” he said.
“We believe it is our moral and humanitarian duty, as neighbors, to extend help to those in need.”
In conclusion, Ambassador Şen expressed hope that World Refugee Day would raise global awareness, prevent new tragedies, and contribute to resolving the struggles of refugees worldwide.
