Open Letter: Egypt Support for Those Fleeing Violence in Sudan

Letter to His Excellency Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, and Her Excellency Dr. Hanan Hamdan, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Egypt Representative 

Subject: Egypt Support for Those Fleeing Violence in Sudan

Dear Mr. Shoukry and Dr. Hamdan, 

The clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces that began in Sudan on 15 April 2023 are causing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis on the Egypt-Sudan border. Hundreds have lost their lives in Sudan, many remain at risk, and thousands have fled and are seeking refuge in Egypt. 

To address the plight of Sudanese refugees at the border, we, the undersigned, call on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Egypt and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt to ensure those fleeing violence in Sudan can exercise their rights under international law to seek and enjoy refuge in Egypt.

As a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, and the 1969 Organisation of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, Egypt must ensure that those displaced from Sudan have the right to seek and enjoy asylum from persecution and not to be returned to a country where they would be in probable danger of persecution. We acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the Egyptian government to respond to the fluid situation at its border and support those fleeing violence in Sudan. As the crisis intensifies, the need for urgent action increases. Ensuring the needs of those in the border zone are met is of paramount importance.

We, the undersigned, urge UNHCR Egypt and the Egyptian government to take the following actions immediately: 

  • Issue a public directive to allow Sudanese people displaced by conflict to seek asylum at the Egyptian border, in line with the 1951 Convention, the 1967 Protocol, and other bilateral treaties. Ensure this directive is unambiguous, uniformly implemented, and disseminated in a clear and accessible way to arriving asylum seekers so that they know and can exercise their rights.

  • Waive entry requirements for Sudanese and non-Sudanese nationals fleeing the conflict in Sudan, including the visa requirement for Sudanese men ages 16 to 49 and the requirement to carry a valid Sudanese passport.

  • Expedite exceptional procedures to allow entry for those with temporary travel documents issued by Sudanese border authorities.

  • Allow those with non-Sudanese passports, including those with Sudan- and UNHCR-issued refugee documents, to seek asylum in Egypt.

  • Establish welcome centers at the Argeen Land Border Port and the Wadi Halfa Land Border Port to provide asylum seekers with food, water, shelter, emergency healthcare, and sanitation and hygiene facilities.

  • Implement emergency financial aid and social services programs for all arriving asylum seekers.

  • Collaborate with nongovernmental organizations with relevant capacity and resources to ensure needed interventions are introduced as soon as possible, matching the urgency of the humanitarian need. 

We cannot abandon those fleeing violence in Sudan. It is time to act in a coordinated way to provide the needed support and supplies to those seeking asylum in Egypt, in line with the nation’s commitments under international law and our moral obligations as citizens and neighbors to the Sudanese people.

رسالة إلى السيد سامح شكري، وزير خارجية جمهورية مصر العربية ، والدكتورة حنان حمدان، ممثل المفوضية السامية لشؤون اللاجئين في مصر

الموضوع: طلب دعم جمهورية مصر لمساعدة الفارين من العنف في السودان

السيد شكري و السيدة حمدان

تسببت الاشتباكات بين القوات المسلحة السودانية وقوات الدعم السريع التي بدأت في السودان في 15 أبريل 2023 في أزمة إنسانية غير مسبوقة على الحدود المصرية السودانية. فقد المئات حياتهم في السودان، ولا يزال الكثيرون في خطر، وفر الآلاف يلجأون إلى مصر.

لمعالجة محنة اللاجئين السودانيين على الحدود ندعو نحن الموقعون أدناه مفوض الأمم المتحدة السامي لشؤون اللاجئين في مصر ووزارة خارجية مصر إلى ضمان تمكن الفارين من العنف في السودان من ممارسة حقوقهم في طلب اللجوء والتمتع به في مصر و ذلك بموجب القوانين و المواثيق الدولية

باعتبار أن جمهورية مصر من الدول الموقعة على اتفاقية اللاجئين لعام 1951، وبروتوكول عام 1967 المتعلق بأوضاع اللاجئين، واتفاقية منظمة الوحدة الأفريقية لعام 1969 الخاصة بمشاكل اللاجئين في أفريقيا. و عليه يجب على مصر أن تضمن أن للنازحين من السودان الحق في طلب اللجوء  وعدم عودتهم إلى بلد يتعرضون فيها إلى الخطر. 

نحن على علم بالجهود الهائلة التي تبذلها الحكومة المصرية الاستجابة للوضع الذي يتسم بالسيولة على حدودها و تقديم الدعم للفارين  من العنف في السودان ومع اشتداد الأزمة، تزداد الحاجة إلى اتخاذ إجراءات عاجلة إن ضمان تلبية احتياجاتهم في المنطقة الحدودية أمر بالغ الأهمية.

نحن الموقعون أدناه، نطالب  مفوضية الأمم المتحدة لشؤون اللاجئين في مصر والحكومة المصرية على اتخاذ الإجراءات التالية على الفور:

إصدار توجيهات عامة للسماح للسودانيين النازحين بسبب النزاع بطلب اللجوء على الحدود المصرية، بما يتماشى مع اتفاقية عام 1951 وبروتوكول عام 1967 والمعاهدات الثنائية الأخرى، و التأكد من أن هذه التوجيهات واضحة ولا لبس فيه، وعلى أن  يتم تنفيذها بشكل موحد، ونشرها بطريقة واضحة ومعلومة لدى الجميع حتى يتمكن طالبي اللجوء من التعرف على حقوقهم وممارستها

إزالة جميع الشروط المتعلقة بدخول المواطنين السودانيين وغير السودانيين الفارين من النزاع في السودان، بما في ذلك شرط التأشيرة للرجال السودانيين الذين تتراوح أعمارهم بين 16 و49 عاما وشرط حمل جواز سفر سوداني ساري المفعول.

تسريع الإجراءات الاستثنائية الخاصة بالسماح بدخول حملة وثائق السفر المؤقتة الصادرة من السلطات السودانية.

السماح لحاملي جوازات السفر غير

السودانية، بما في ذلك الذين يحملون وثائق اللاجئين الصادرة عن السودان ومفوضية الأمم المتحدة لشؤون اللاجئين، بطلب اللجوء في مصر.

إنشاء مراكز ترحيب في ميناء ارقين 

 الحدود ميناء وادي حلفا الحدودي البري لتوفير الغذاء و الماء و الخدمات الصحية الطارئة لي لطالبي اللجوء 

تنفيذ برامج المساعدات المالية والخدمات الاجتماعية الطارئة لجميع طالبي اللجوء الوافدين.

التعاون مع المنظمات غير الحكومية ذات القدرات والموارد ذات الصلة لضمان  التدخل اللازم بما يتماشى  مع الاحتياجات الإنسانية المطلوبة في أقرب وقت ممكن

لا يمكننا التخلي عن  الفارين من العنف في السودان. لقد حان الوقت للعمل بطريقة منسقة لتوفير الدعم الذين يلتمسون اللجوء في مصر، بما يتماشى مع التزامات الدول بموجب القانون الدولي والتزاماته الأخلاقية كمواطنين وجيران للشعب السوداني.م

Signatories

As of 13 May 15:00 BST - 300+ Signatories

Abdelaziz Yakub, Editor in Chief, Al Hamish Sudan

Wafaa Salim, Chair, University of Khartoum Alumni Association in the UK and Ireland

Gasim Amin Oshi, Representative of Baitalmaal Resistance Committee

Selma Taha, Executive Director, Southall Black Sisters UK

Emma Stevenson, Deputy Chief Executive, Choose Love INGO

Suldaan Said Ahmed, Helsinki City Councillor. Former MP 🇫🇮 & Special Representative of the MFA, Parliament of Finland

Magdi Ghali, Australian Coptic Sudanese Welfare Association of Victoria

Ebaa ElMelik, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Media for Justice in Sudan

Nafisa Bakkar, CEO of Amaliah

Aliyah Hasinah, Director, Black Curatorial

Elizabeth Dykstra McCarthy, World Bank

Niema Hassan Taha Alhessen, Architect, Sudan Urban Development Think Tank SUDTT

Salah Gadelseed, Activist, Sudanese Anti-War Alliance

Spring Magazine, Activist and Solidarity Media, Spring Socialist Network

Nawar Elkhalifa, Lead Program Manager, UEFA

Hafsa Halawa, Independent Consultant and Advocate, Middle East Institute

Majdi Osman, Doctor, Nubia Health Center, Wadi Halfa; University of Cambridge

Khalid Albaih, Sudanese Artist

Dallia M. Abdelmoniem, Sudanese Political Commentator

Alexander Ockenden, SOS Humanity

Lugain Mahmoud, Senior Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, International Rescue Committee

Ola Dian, Journalist, Marhaba Information Guide (Qatar)

Majid Abaas, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Sudan

Nahla Khiery, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF

Lucy Nabijou, Coordinator at Haringey Welcome

Kylie Thomas, NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Netherlands

Reem Awad, Investigations Analyst at Protection Group International

Paul McGlinchey, Policy Advisor at British Liver Trust

Gabriela Gomez, Director of Counseling Services, Head & Hands

Reem Shawkat, Sudanese PhD Student, Project Taghyir

Sara Saleh, Human Rights Lawyer and Writer

Diana Sayed, Human Rights Lawyer

Roxanne Moore, Noongar Human Rights Lawyer and Activist

Marcelle Messaouda Partouche, Activist, Advocate, and Researcher McGill/ENAP

Nisrin Elamin, Professor of African Studies and Anthropology, University of Toronto

Salma El-Wardany, Broadcaster

Mahdi Mohamed, Tech Executive

Mat Nashed, Independent Journalist

Elena Habersky, Migration Researcher

Dhaksh Sooriyakumaran, Academic and Activist

Gwendolyn Schulman, Broadcaster, Amandla! radio

Lindsay M. Montgomery, Professor, University of Toronto

George Dei, Professor, OISE, University of Toronto

Jesook Song, Professor, University of Toronto

Janelle Taylor, Professor, University of Toronto

Rosalind O'Shaughnessy, Emergency Medicine Doctor at NHS, UK

Faisal Mohammed Salih Basama, Retired Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

Ibtihalat Abdelmagid Mohamed, Paediatric Cardiologist

Maryam Elarbi, Activist, Social Impact Consultant

Aseel Salih, Public Health Activist

Douglas Miller, Broadcaster, Amandla! Radio - CKUT 90.3FM Montreal

Feroz Mehdi, Activist, Alternatives International

Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Sudanese Writer and Activist

Safa Elfadil Abdullah, Movement

Meriam Gebremichael, Community Support Worker, Movement

Hassan Zakaria, Activist, Refugees in Libya

Hassan Elatta, Social Worker, United Welsh

Sami Musa, Consultant, CMI Peace Foundation

Nadia Rosales, Activist          

Khalid Hassan, Activist, PAWA

Noura Mohamed, Programme Officer, IOM

Caitlan Lloyd, Lawyer, REDRESS

Yassin  Firea, Activist, Sudanese Against War

Sara Elhassan, Sudanese Writer and Editor

Sara Linnoinen, International IDEA

Mohammed El-Koubani, Activist, Madaniya SDG

Sara Sinada, Humanitarian worker, Media for Justice in Sudan

Janice Boddy, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto

Khalid Mustafa Medani, University Professor, McGill University

Mohamed ElHigzi, Regulatory Affairs Pharmacist

Betty Desalegn, Human Rights Organiser, Toronto

Amal Hamdan, Electoral Systems and Legal Frameworks Expert

Adam Burrowes, Political Risk Analyst

Joseph H. Carens, FRSC, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto

Nada Moumtaz, Academic, University of Toronto

Comfort Udah, Academic, University of Toronto

Omer Ozcan, Academic, University of Toronto

Dickson Eyoh, Academic, University of Toronto

Noha Fikry, PhD Candidate, University of Toronto

Angela Dy, Academic at Loughborough University

Randa Abdel-Fattah, Academic and Author, Macquarie University

Caroline Shenaz Hossein, Academic, University of Toronto

Anisha Chadha, Academic, University of Toronto

Lauren Schroeder, Academic, University of Toronto

Krista Maxwell, Academic, University of Toronto

Myrtede Alfred, Academic, University of Toronto

Nadège Compaoré, Academic, University of Toronto

Katherine Patton, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Gerald Rowe, PhD, Academic, Institut National de la Rechereche Scientifique

Andrea S. Allen, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Amahl Bishara, Anthropologist, Tufts University

Deborah Cowen, Professor, University of Toronto

Natalie Rothman, Academic, University of Toronto

Beverley Mullings, Academic, University of Toronto

James Deutsch, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Ruth Marshall, Associate Professor, University of Toronto

Victor Li, Associate Professor (Emeritus), University of Toronto

Sumayya Kassamali, Academic, University of Toronto

Zoë Wool, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Kamari Clarke, Professor, University of Toronto

Amahl Bishara, Professor Abdurrahman Guantai, Academic, Minnesota State University

Farah Elmalik, Academic, Melbourne University

Ahmed H. Ali  Advocate, Columbia Law School

Tushabe Tushabe, Professor, Widener University

Jonah Rexer, Economist, Princeton University

May Taha Elroubi, Academic, Queen Mary University of London

Dr Faiza Elhigzi, Sudanese Academic and advocate

Lamees Said, Student, Imperial College London

Samira Harhouf, Student, The London School of Ecnomics

Rachel Goffe, Academic, University of Toronto

Alissa Trotz, Professor, University of Toronto

Sarah Farag, Academic, University of Zurich

Clémentine Teboulle, Academic

Mariah Stember, Academic, Hamilton College

Tasneem Eltohami, Student  

Samar Al-Bulushi, UC Irvine

Blair Rutherford, Academic, Carleton University (Canada)

Rebecca Harcourt, Educator, UNSW

Indigo Willing, Sociologist, Griffith University

Alaa Ahmed, Academic, Cornell

Lucilla Lepratti, PhD candidate, University of Bayreuth

Yasmina Martin, Academic   

Haney Hamd, Academic

Ahmed Awad Adeel, Academic        

Gavin Smith, Professor, University Of Toronto

Rosa Sarabia, Professor Emerita, University of Toronto

Ahmed Bayoumi, Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto

Mohamed Bayoumi, Professor Emeritus, Queen’s University at Kingston

Stephen Rockel, Professor, University of Toronto  

Arsalan Kahnemuyipour, Academic, University of Toronto

Anne-Emanuelle Birn, Professor, University of Toronto

Cassandra Hartblay, Academic, University of Toronto

Janice Boddy, Professor Emerita, Universe of Toronto

Rania Salem, Professor, University of Toronto

Agi, Academic, University of Toronto

Nicholas Sammond, Professor of Cinema and Media Studies; Director, Centre for the Study of the United States, University of Toronto

Dr. Rosalind Hampton, Professor of Black Studies, Social Justice Education

Nada El Kouny, Postdoctoral Fellow, AUC

Duha Elmardi, Graduate Student, Concordia University    

Whitnee Garrett-Walker, Scholar, University of Toronto, OISE

Ayan Mohamed, Academic

Seulgie Lim, Assistant Professor, Bates College

Hannah Muzee, Academic, AAPRP

Scott Burnett, Academic, Pennsylvania State University

Nanre Nafziger, Academic, Scholar-Activist

Safaa Ramadan, Psychotherapist      

Bradley Troupe, Healthcare worker  

Viktoria Stelikou, Clinical Psychologist         

Mai Abdalla, Doctor  

Nada Salih, Doctor    

Farah Ahmed, Support worker         

Moses Kubai, Healthcare professional         

Michelle Aurora, Bookkeeper           

Azza Mohamed, Doctor        

Lauren Fedt, Healthcare Worker

Mahgoub Kamal Mahgoub Mohamed Ali, Lab Technician  

Maysoun Mustafa, Scientist  

Ibtihalat Abdelmagid Mohamed, Doctor     

Deborah Chat Dauda, Researcher, LEPA Initiative

Edward Thomas, Research, RVI

Shaimaa, Doctor, NHS

Abdelrahman, Doctor, WHO

Mariam Abdelwahab, Mental health therapist, The Heart Leaf

Arwa A, Interpreter, MNSW

Rayan Mohamed, Interpreter           

Zeinab Yousif, Lawyer

Zeinab Yousif, Lawyer

Inesse, Lawyer

Adisalem Gebremedhin, Researcher

Kara Johnston, Molina International, Civil Servant  

Vanessa Poncia, Solicitor, UK

Kevin Griffith, Buddhist Monk, Triratna Buddhist Order

Nazim Ibrahim, Coordinator 

Nixon Otinya, Peace Practitioner

Samar Mustafa, Educator

Lekhani Chirwa, Freelance Youth Worker/Creative Facilitator, Anti Racist Cumbria

Tayo Odesanya, Director

Coco Mariano, Graphic Designer, Sustainable Concordia

Brett Cox, Internal Coordinator, Sustainable Concordia

Sam Tadros, Senior Production Planner, Movement

Azza Ali, Support worker       

Samrawit Gebru, Administration      

Tasneem Hijazi, Pharmacy Assistant, Wilfrid Laurier University

Azza Abuseif, Non-Profit Executive   

Leena Shibeika, Urban Researcher   

Lubna Karim, Public Relations consultant, Saudi

Murphy Bannerman, Government Affairs, WRA

Amanuel Berhane Mekonen, Student          

Tanya Abdalla, Educator

Amira Hassan, Teacher and Researcher

Alexander Leon, LGBTQ+ Activist

Robert Prazeres, PhD student

Matilda Dixon-Smith, Author

Saima Ferdows, TV Producer

Nour Khairi, Media Producer

Alison Evans, Author 

Elisa Aseva, Author, Weissbooks

Sara Jafari, Editor and Author           

Nancy Elgadi, Editor  

Farzana, Writer /Director

Sara Yassi, Writer

Shailja Patel, Writer  

Fatin Abbas, Writer, MIT

Kahini Mutsuddi, Media        

Tilly Lawless, Writer    

Mariam Khan, Journalist at MyLondon

Francisco Lopez, Journalist, F+K

Amon Warmann, Film Journalist

Tom Claes, Journalist

Augustine Passilly, Independent Journalist  

Leila Belhadj Mohamed, Freelance Journalist         

Marianne Dhenin, Independent Journalist

Cris Robertson, Communications Consultant at Karoo Youth

Afia Abusham, Artist and Activist at Madaniya.sdg

Dr Faiza El-Higzi, Academic and Advocate

Alexander Darby, Software Engineer

Yasmin Akasha, Sustainability Consultant & Engineer, Buro Happold, UK

Marwan Elgendi, Engineer

Shinu Antony, Software Engineer

Abdulrahman Eissa, Software Engineer

Ibrahim Hussein Ibrahim Aljunde, Diesel Engineer

Matt Lazaridis, IT worker, Socialist Activist  

Muhammad Farjad Malik, Engineer

Samahdr Badawi Abdalla, Sudanese Engineer

Yasmin Osman, Behavioural Scientist

Adam Berryhill, Data Scientist          

Sarah Berryhill, Marketer      

Rua Taha, Engineer   

Perihane Allam, Freelancer

Olu Ada, Freelancer

Mohamed Abdel Salam, Researcher

Ahmed Abdulbagi Ismail Ahmed, Engineer

Sultan El-Nager, Sudanese IT Manager

Abdalaziz Khairi, Radiochemist, Curium Pharma

Leena Kheir, Interdisciplinary creator, designer and writer 

Sali mudawi, Photographer  

Mads Oliver, Vet Nurse

Arwa Ramadan, Graphic designer

Sara Abdelgalil, Pediatric Consultant           

AbdulKuddus Zhyldyzbek, Student, Kyrgyz Republic

Rahaf, Student           

Alana Duggan, PhD candidate          

Sarra Elgalal, Student

Selma Mohamed, Student    

Monira , Student        

Layla Elkoulily, Student          

Gaeda Khalid Senien, Undergraduate Student, Lund University

Ireny Nabil, MA Student

Sitnour Adam, Student at Griffith University

Seychelle Gabriel, Actor        

Sagirah Shahid, Poet, Mizna

Feaven Abera, Actor, The Table

Jonelle Twum, Cultural worker

Trad Alroweilly

Sveva Vittoria Scenarelli

Isaac Seymour

Hayfa Mathlouthi

Gnebe Awa

Yousra Samir

Salma Kandil

Hala Abdelnabi

Fatima Makki

Khaldah Salih 

Taysir Elhadi

Chris Essombe

Aliah Salih

Mahjoub Derar          

Mairi Campbell                      

Sara Osman   

Samah Ali

Ali Abdalatif   

Dana S.                      

Hannah Babiker                     

Daniel McLaughlin                

Venus Abduallah

Heather Chambers    

Anne Julie Lemieux               

Leon Felix Russo

Aaraf Adam               

Hameeda Hasniya Raahat                 

Maria Elias                 

Sarah Elansari            

Andrew Kassir                       

Karen Wells

Ekram Subhi              

Remaz Abdelgader                

Megan Halla              

Hind Said       

Julian Schneider                    

Zainab Isaac noor                  

Lina Babiker               

Asgad Alhur               

Aisha Hassanein                    

Lowlowa Mohamed  

AbdAllah AbdElrahman                    

Reem Abutalib                       

Bassil Wali                 

Shaima Ibrahim                     

Dale Raven North

Wisam Gangari                      

Rayan Mohamed       

Mohammed Bahari               

Amanda Randone                 

Rana Saeed                

Perihane Allam                      

dhananjay dar           

Yusra Abbas               

Khalda El Jack            

Layla Gabir

Abusabeeb Elsadig

Abdurrahman Izhac               

Hajir Yousif Saeed                 

Islam Eltohami          

Claudia Schmidt

Stefanie Renata Limnios

Ayat Salih                   

Amna Alaqib              

Theresia Kneschke

Eman Elnour Mustafa