UPDATE! Sudanese Refugees Seek Safety In Neighboring Egypt

Thousands of Sudanese families have been crossing the northern Arqin border into Egypt to escape the ongoing fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The conflict erupted in mid-April, and since then, families have been waiting at the border area, with buses lining up to transport them to safety.

According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, over 14,000 refugees from Sudan have crossed into Egypt since the fighting began. The ministry added that a further 2,000 individuals from 50 other countries or members of international organizations have also sought refuge in Egypt or have been airlifted to safety.

The conflict has claimed the lives of at least 512 people, including civilians and combatants, with another 4,200 individuals wounded, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry. The Doctors’ Syndicate, which monitors civilian casualties, has reported at least 295 civilian deaths and 1,790 injuries.

The fighting has caused widespread displacement, with tens of thousands of residents of the capital city of Khartoum fleeing to neighboring provinces or existing camps within Sudan that house victims of previous conflicts.

Many refugees expressed their fears about the situation in Sudan and their gratitude for Egypt’s willingness to provide refuge.

“I left my home, my place because of the fighting between people of the same country against each other,” said Nawal al-Sharif, a Sudanese citizen.

Egypt has strong ties with the Sudanese military but has called for an end to the fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. The Egyptian government has also called on all parties to prioritize the safety and well-being of civilians.

The situation in Sudan remains unstable, and the international community must work together to support those affected by the conflict.

It is vital that refugees receive the assistance they need to rebuild their lives and that a sustainable peace agreement is reached to end the violence in Sudan.