Human Rights Watch criticizes Egypt for imposing visas on Sudanese entry
Human Rights Watch criticized the decision of the Egyptian government to impose visas on all Sudanese entering Egypt, restricting the access of women, children, and the elderly fleeing conflict in Sudan to safe places.
The organization stated that the impact of the new regulations, in addition to previous instructions requiring Sudanese males aged 16 to 49 to obtain a visa, violates international standards by unreasonably delaying asylum requests and threatening lives.
Egyptian authorities justified the new entry visa law, claiming it would curb visa forgery. According to the organization, until late June of last year, thousands of displaced persons were stranded in deplorable humanitarian conditions while attempting to obtain a visa from the Egyptian consulate in Wadi Halfa, Sudan, near the Egyptian border. Some had to wait for a month, struggling to secure food, shelter, and healthcare.
The organization stated, “The necessity of combating visa forgery does not justify Egypt’s refusal or delay in allowing those fleeing the serious conflict in Sudan to enter.” Human Rights Watch called on the Egyptian government to cancel visa entry procedures for Sudanese citizens during the current crisis, allow them to enter swiftly, and facilitate asylum procedures or treatment for most, if not all, as refugees.
Until June 16th of last year, the new visa instructions forced thousands of civilians, including children, most of whom came from the capital, Khartoum, to remain stranded in extreme heat at the border crossings between Egypt and Sudan, according to the media. Meanwhile, “Egypt made no clear effort to increase the capacity to expedite Sudanese visas,” according to the human rights organization.
Since the start of the fighting in Sudan in April, more than 2.7 million Sudanese have been displaced (2.2 million within Sudan and around 500,000 to neighboring countries). Egypt has received more than 250,000 Sudanese, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in addition to about 2-5 million Sudanese who were in Egypt before the conflict.
The UNHCR, which registers asylum seekers and determines their refugee status on behalf of the government, reported that 77,000 Sudanese were registered as refugees or asylum seekers until last June.
