The MENA Migrant Health project is committed to addressing barriers to migrant health through a comprehensive approach that includes innovative data collection and analysis tools. A key initiative is the development of the Migrant Health Country Profile tool (MHCP-t), designed to equip healthcare practitioners and policymakers with essential insights for effectively monitoring the health needs of migrants, particularly concerning infectious diseases and vaccination coverage. The prototype will first be tested in Morocco, Tunisia, and Sudan, with plans for subsequent implementation in Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and Yemen. This comprehensive strategy ensures a region-wide impact on improving migrant health care.
In the process of developing the tool, we are privileged to benefit from the expertise of two esteemed individuals from Yemen. Faisal Elkathiry leads the Happy Yemen Initiative, while Yosra Almatari serves as the organisation’s executive and financial manager. They contributed to the MENA Migrant Health General Assembly by sharing insights into their roles as leaders within the migrant community in Egypt.
On the occasion of World Migrants’ Day, we publish the interview that our colleague Eman Elafef, who is pursuing a PhD with the MENA Migrant Health project, conducted with them.
Can you tell us about the initiative’s origins and what motivated its establishment in 2016?
The initiative was established to provide a safe and supportive environment for migrants to live in dignity and to obtain their rights. We target immigrants, refugees, and vulnerable groups of various nationalities and ages, male and female.
How does your initiative aim to improve the lives of Yemeni migrants and refugees in Egypt?
The Happy Yemen initiative aims to enhance the lives of Yemeni migrants and refugees by providing awareness services, organising community events to promote peaceful coexistence, and facilitating their connection with local and international organisations. Can you tell us more about the sections of your initiative? Our organisation comprises various departments and teams, each with a distinct focus. These include the Education Department, Women’s Department, Social and Legal Section, Child Section, Health Team, Youth Team, Special Needs Team, Crisis and Relief Team, and the Secretarial and Reception Team. How can you offer guidance and support services to refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt to help them?By providing general information, services, and legal, educational, health, psychological, and social guidance to refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt, we aim to clarify the method of registration in UNHCR and how to benefit from the services provided by UNHCR and primary providers of refugees and migrants in Egypt.
Do you collaborate with other UN agencies, NGOs, and local organisations in Egypt?
We collaborate with various agencies, including UNHCR, Terre des hommes, IOM, Psycho-social Services and Training Institute in Cairo, Saint Andrew’s Refugee Services, MSF, Egyptian Red Crescent, Catholic Relief Services Egypt, Care Egypt Foundation, Save the Children, Refuge Egypt, WFP, and UNICEF. We also collaborate with several local organizations and institutions, including Dubara Palace, Youth Club Yemeni Community in Egypt, The Nature Academy, The Team of Yemenis in Egypt, Heliopolis University, Al-Ahlam Afro-Asian Association, Egyptian Foundation for Refugees, and Future Hopes Initiative.
Could you please provide insight into the challenges encountered by the migrants who receive your services and how you effectively address these challenges?
The refugee and migrant community faces significant challenges, including limited access to shelter, food, employment opportunities, and healthcare.
Some of the ways we can help address these challenges include: providing vocational and professional training for young people to improve their job opportunities, offering psychological and social support, distributing food supplies and aid from charitable sources, connecting the community with organisations that can aid, and raising awareness within the community.
What challenges do you face as an initiative, and how do you overcome them?
We are actively addressing the challenges facing our initiative. Our primary focus is on securing the necessary funding to ensure long-term sustainability and to attract and retain volunteers. To overcome these challenges, we are implementing a strategy to offer specific courses for a nominal fee, contributing to our sustainability.
