Sudan's longstanding generosity toward refugees should receive  international recognition

The international community welcomed the Sudan government's timely decision to open new humanitarian corridor for the World Food Program (WFP), to enable aid to get through to South Sudan, where famine has been declared in parts of the country.

importance of Sudanese decision is premised on the fact that it comes at a critical time just before South Sudan’s rainy season, which starts in May and usually renders roads impassable.

Sudan ‘s initiative comes in conformity with both, Sudan’s longstanding and exemplary hospitality towards refugees, and likewise Sudan’s principled position that it will spare no effort to assist brothers in Southern Sudan until peace and stability are maintained.

Celebrating Sudan’s position, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Marta Ruedas said "we are very grateful to the government of Sudan for the open approach, this is not something that has been easy, and they have shown a great deal of concern, generosity and openness,".

Likewise, the U.S Charge d'Affaires in Khartoum, on his part, has appreciated the efforts of Sudan government in this connection, affirming the importance of continuing contacts and coordination to address the humanitarian situation challenge in South Sudan.

The flow of South Sudanese refugees into the Sudan shows no signs of abating.

Every day, approximately 300 people cross the border to escape insecurity and lack of food in neighboring South Sudan. According to Sudanese officials Sudan is currently hosting more than 495,000 South Sudanese refugees, who have arrived since the brutal civil war erupted in their country in December 2013. In fact, given the situation in South Sudan marked by localized fighting and critical levels of food insecurity in areas close to the Sudanese border, the UNHCR and partners anticipated the continued arrival of South Sudanese refugees into Sudan throughout 2017.

Notably, in December 2013, Sudan’s President Omer al-Bashir decided to treat South Sudanese refugees as citizens and refused establishing refugee camps for them, saying they can live and work all over Sudan. It’s only recently, and at the behest and repeated appeals of the government of South Sudan, Sudanese government has agreed for yet humanitarian reasons, to recognize South Sudanese nationals as refugees, so they can launch calls for the United Nations, to provide funds and aid assistance.

As the time when the world is struggling to accommodate a record number of refugees, one country has been exceptionally and notably welcoming without any reproach or injury; despite its known unfavorable economic conditions, Sudan in an exceptional self-denial, has willingly adopted open door policy towards refugees, Sudan has always opened its arms to those fleeing the wars of the South, but to those fleeing most of the continent's wars, large numbers of whom enter the Sudan legally or otherwise, constituting a heavy burden on the country’s meager resources and services.

Arguably, generosity stands as an integral part of the Sudanese cultural heritage which is inherited over the generations, especially towards those desperately fleeing conflicts and other tribulations; UNHCR for instance, continues to commend the Government and people of Sudan for providing hospitality to Asylum-seekers and refugees, hosting one of the world’s most protracted refugee Populations, over the past four decades.

Sudan continues to show outstanding generosity and hospitality towards the waves of South Sudanese refugees, at a time when the country is hosting the highest number of refugees in its history; today, besides South Sudanese nationals, Sudan is generally hosting about two million refugees from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, Somalia, Central Africa Republic, Yemen and Syria, fleeing conflicts and the like, to find safe haven in what must rank as one of the world’s most hospitable countries to refugees. According to UN statistics, there are steady new influxes of Eritrean refugees and asylum-seekers into eastern Sudan, at a rate of 1800 per month.

Citing another example of self-denial, let us recall that, at the time Syrian refugees were exposed to a systematic and untold violence, prosecution and discrimination in some countries in the region, Syrians and Yemeni refugees equally, were accorded special treatment in Sudan; granted the right to enter Sudan with no visa needed, and no fees entailed. In addition to that they are granted free medical care and education (free primary and secondary education in government schools) besides, the right to work in public and private sector. More importantly, Syrians and Yemenis, living in Sudan say they do not face the discrimination they often run into in some other Arab countries.

In fact and according to Mr. Mazin Abu El-Kheir, the founder of the Syrian Support Committee in Khartoum “If Sudan closes its doors, Syrians have two options: Turkey or the sea," adding that "And everyone has seen the tragedies that happen at sea.” Syrian refugees in Sudan have exceeded 100,000 in number and this figure is growing with aggravation of crisis in their country.

Upon his return from a his first short visit to Sudan in July 2016, the American Richard Gunderman, Chancellor’s Professor of Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy, Indiana University, documenting his experience in his article (The lessons of Sudan) he writes " My experiences in Sudan led me to think that hospitality and generosity are far more characteristic of the Islamic faith than extremism and terrorism. As a visitor from a far-off land and an adherent of another faith, my own experiences in Sudan attested to the importance of hospitality in the Islamic tradition. I had the sense that my Muslim hosts saw hospitality not as a duty they were required to comply with but as an opportunity to shine at something that they cared deeply about.

Whereas, Sudan deserves tremendous international praise for its continued humanitarian efforts, however, it is equally vital today for the international community to come together and to expedite their contributions of funds and expertise to ensure that all the urgent needs of refugees in Sudan and duly met. Further international efforts are equally needed to find long-term political solutions that will allow these refugees to return to their home countries to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.

By Mubarak M.Musa Diplomat;
Embassy of Sudan in Ukraine, Kiev