Nationality and Cases of Statelessness in the Middle East and North Africa had left Sudan, as refugees or migrants, and taken up residence abroad.83 People of Sudanese and SouthSudanese origin can be found in significant numbers in several MENA countries, most particularly Egypt.84 2.4 Contemporary influences on MENA countries’ nationality policy Much has already been said in the preceding sections about the historic, cultural and political influences on MENA countries’ nationality policy. Before proceeding to review the content of that nationality policy, a few more comments are nevertheless due with regard to the contemporary setting in which the region’s nationality laws operate. There are, indeed, a number of particularities relating to the MENA region – or sub-regions within this broad geographic area – which other parts of the world do not generally have to contend with and which continue to have an impact on the regulation of nationality. First of all, the demographic reality of several MENA countries presents a considerable challenge, not least in those countries which host Palestinian populations. 83 - Open Society Institute (OSI), The Right to a Nationality and the Secession of South Sudan: A Commentary on the Impact of the New Laws, June 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/50b61ca32.html. 84 - See UNHCR, A responsibility to protect: UNHCR and statelessness in Egypt, January 2013, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/510fa7562.html. 68