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Egypt Heading to Ban Drones to Prevent their Use in Terror Operations

An Egyptian parliamentary committee will study on Monday a draft-law that bars the possession of drones in the country. (Reuters)
An Egyptian parliamentary committee will study on Monday a draft-law that bars the possession of drones in the country. (Reuters)
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Egypt Heading to Ban Drones to Prevent their Use in Terror Operations

An Egyptian parliamentary committee will study on Monday a draft-law that bars the possession of drones in the country. (Reuters)
An Egyptian parliamentary committee will study on Monday a draft-law that bars the possession of drones in the country. (Reuters)

Egypt’s parliament will discuss on Monday a new law that bars the drones in the country as part of authorities’ effort to combat terrorism.

The Defense and National Security committee will address a draft-law that bans the import, manufacturing, selling or possession of drones given that they have been used in terror plots.

If approved, the law will sanction the possession of drones only after an official permit is obtained.

Committee member MP Khaled Abou Taleb underlined the importance of the law because it organizes affairs linked to national security,

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the new law imposes a punishment on anyone who possesses drones without official authorization.

The punishment could reach the death, especially if the drone is used for a terrorist attack, he explained.

The punishments are aimed at deterring people from possessing the banned product, said the MP.

It will be applied to anyone who uses the drones for illegal purposes, especially since in many occasions the drones are imported as a form of toy, but they are later used in terror attacks, said Abou Taleb.

The Egyptian government had approved the draft-law on barring drones in March.

Parliamentary sources explained that the new law seeks to organize the possession of the drones, seeing as how they are easily obtained in the country and how they can be used for malicious purposes, such as surveillance and creating instability, noting that they can also be equipped with explosives.

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UNHCR Praises Saudi Support Amid Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food aid in the city of Umm Rawaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan (SPA)
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food aid in the city of Umm Rawaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan (SPA)
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UNHCR Praises Saudi Support Amid Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food aid in the city of Umm Rawaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan (SPA)
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food aid in the city of Umm Rawaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan (SPA)

A senior United Nations official has described the ongoing crisis in Sudan as one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies, yet also among the least funded. Less than 18 percent of the $1.8 billion needed to support relief operations in 2025 has been secured.

Mamadou Dian Balde, Regional Director of the UNHCR for East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes, and the agency’s regional refugee coordinator for Sudan, stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia’s continued support.

He noted that the Kingdom’s contribution remains vital to maintaining life-saving aid, especially at a time when global humanitarian funding is shrinking.

During a recent visit to Riyadh, Balde met with key Saudi officials to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation with UNHCR. His discussions focused on supporting over 27 million refugees and displaced individuals across East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and surrounding regions.

He stressed that Saudi Arabia’s partnership, both through direct aid and international collaboration, has played a crucial role in sustaining relief efforts in the face of the largest displacement crisis worldwide.

Balde’s visit included meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), the Saudi Fund for Development, and Islamic development institutions such as the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development. He also consulted with humanitarian and religious organizations like the Muslim World League and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth.

In Sudan, despite limited resources, UNHCR continues to deliver core services such as refugee registration, relocation to safer areas, and distribution of emergency supplies. This includes shelter kits, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lamps, and kitchen essentials, as well as medical supplies and support for survivors of gender-based violence and unaccompanied children.

Balde highlighted the scale of the crisis, pointing to nearly 13 million Sudanese who have been displaced in just two years, with 4 million fleeing across borders. He warned that displacement is accelerating, citing the arrival of approximately 2,000 new refugees daily in Chad due to recent violence in North Darfur.

With only 11 percent of the regional response plan for Sudan funded, humanitarian actors face difficult choices, often unable to reach all those in need.

Looking ahead, UNHCR’s strategy combines emergency relief with long-term development.

Balde stressed the need to integrate refugees into national systems, improve host community services, and avoid parallel aid structures, Balde told Asharq Al-Awsat.

For 2025, the agency and its partners require $1.8 billion to assist 4.8 million people, including refugees, returnees, and local communities across the region.