Only a few days remain until the deadline imposed by Sudan’s military for “foreigners” to leave the country’s capital, Khartoum. Refugees, many of whom fled from conflicts and tyrannical regimes in other nations, say they are not provided with a safe exit. They express concern that they might be killed or inexplicably vanish.
A refugee from Ethiopia, residing in southern Khartoum, who chose to remain anonymous due to security issues, conveyed a desperate need for help from humanitarian organisations by providing them with secure pathways and a safe haven. “We are counting on aid organizations,” he relayed via WhatsApp, “if they fail to appear, our lives are at risk.”
The Sudanese army issued a command about two weeks ago, according to local news outlets, which asserts that the 15-day notice for “foreigners” to evacuate is intended to shield them from harm. This came following reports of some refugees’ involvement in clashes with the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, contrary to the army.
In response to a question about the establishment of safe evacuation routes, an official from the Sudanese army replied, “you might’ve directed your message to the wrong individual. I lack the power to designate a departure time for anyone from anywhere.”
The Ethiopian refugee, officially registered with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), stated that while several other Ethiopians attempted to vacate Khartoum, many vanished without a trace during the journey. “Numerous refugees were escorted away and remain missing. As a result, there’s fear among other refugees about leaving Khartoum,” he added.
“We are cornered. There are no humanitarian organisations nearby to seek help from…We refugees, unlike birds, cannot simply fly away.”
There was no response to inquiries from the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UNHCR.
Mathilde Vu, an advocacy leader at the Norwegian Refugee Council, asserts that the ongoing crisis in Sudan is often overlooked, particularly the distress of refugees within the country itself. She highlights the notable transformation of Sudan from a refuge area into a theatre of war, creating a deadlock for refugees who have found their homes ruined by the conflict, especially with the battle lines creeping closer to refugee camps in the East and the South borders.
According to Vu, refugees from South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea are left with no escape route as most cannot return to their native countries due to risks. She expresses deep worry over the deterioration of the asylum environment in Sudan since the initiation of the war, reflected in escalating accounts of refugee detention, harassment, and even expulsion, calling for immediate attention.
Before the recent conflict broke out in mid-April 2023, approximately 309,000 refugees and asylum seekers resided in Khartoum, based on UNHCR data. Many had hoped for legal resettlement to western nations, but opportunities were minimal with UN statistics indicating meagre 1,361 refugees resettlement from Sudan during the past four years.
The ongoing conflict has led to the displacement of over 10 million people, representing nearly 20% of Sudan’s populace, making it the most massive displacement crisis globally as per the UN. Almost 7.8 million of these individuals are internally displaced, while over 2.2 million have sought refuge in other nations, as reported by the UN’s International Organisation for Migration. An additional 2.8 million people were already displaced before the ongoing conflict.