UNHCR’s office in Cairo has a past of using a very limited interpretation of the refugee definition outlined in the 1951 Refugee Convention. Although most of the Sudanese in Egypt fled due to war and violence, many were rejected refugee status because they were unable to prove a “well founded fear of persecution”. Thus, between 1999-2003 only 33% of the Sudanese applying for refugee status in Egypt were recognized. Since 2003, the percentage of Sudanese granted refugee status climbed substantially to about 60-63% as a result of UNHCR's expanded interpretation of the refugee definition in accordance with the OAU Convention.