The Worst Displacement Crisis in the World: An Open Letter on Canada’s Immigration Policy for People Affected by the Conflict in Sudan

It emerged with a core mission to resource grassroots civil society formations spearheading relief efforts in those parts of Sudan most affected by the indiscriminate violence of war. Comprised of a group of Sudanese academics, students, community activists, and professionals, the collective is also dedicated to developing spaces to come together in solidarity, and facilitating avenues for collaboration around political education, advocacy, collective healing, mutual aid, and community building.

The Crisis in Sudan 

On April 15, 2023, armed conflict erupted between two rival factions in Sudan, resulting in heavy fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and other parts of the country. Since the conflict began, the death toll is reported to be over 13,900; thousands of people have been injured, and thousands more are missing or held captive by either of the warring parties. 

Sudan is currently experiencing the worst refugee crisis of our time. Since the conflict began, there have been over 10.7 million people displaced internally and in nearby Egypt, Ethiopia, Chad, South Sudan, and Uganda. It has been named the worst displacement crisis in the world. According to the Displacement Tracking Matrix, nearly 1 in every 8 internally displaced person worldwide is Sudanese. 3 million children have fled the widespread violence in Sudan, making it the world's worst child displacement catastrophe. Sudan is now  hosting an estimated 9.05 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) as of December 31, 2023.There are several reports of women and girls being abducted, forcefully married, facing sexual assaults, or held for ransom. According to Save the Children, there are a total 88 cases of reported sexual assaults, which likely only represents 2% of the total cases. These numbers are likely much smaller than reality. The World Health Organization stated that 4 million girls are at risk of sexual violence in Sudan.Hundreds of thousands of children in Sudan are malnourished and at risk of death, especially with over 70% of healthcare facilities non-functional due to the fighting. Aid remains mostly inaccessible for the most part, due to bureaucratic and other hurdles. 

In Darfur, intense RSF attacks continued, with 4 out of the 5 Darfur states taken over by the militia. On November 2, 2023, after attacking a neighbouring army facility in Al-Junaina, West Darfur, the RSF surrounded a camp for displaced persons and, for 3 days, perpetrated what may account for the single greatest mass massacre since the beginning of the war in April. According to Al Jazeera local sources, this resulted in thousands of casualties and injuries and 310 people were reported missing. This is part of a mass ethnic cleansing campaign  and genocide targeting people from the Masalit tribe, who have been systematically targeted and subjected to genocidal violence  for decades under the previous regimes.

Canada’s Immigration Measures 

Aligning with Canada's enduring humanitarian and compassionate legacy, which involves extending protection to the world’s most vulnerable, the Canadian government has undertaken various immigration-related initiatives since the onset of the war. These measures have allowed Sudanese nationals in Canada to extend their temporary stay so their lives are not endangered by returning to Sudan during a conflict and have eased the process for family members that were in  Sudan on April 15, 2023, to be reunited with their loved ones in Canada, providing them with safety, security and new opportunities. 

As the Sudan Solidarity Collective, we welcome the "temporary public policy to facilitate permanent residence for certain foreign nationals affected by the conflict in Sudan with family in Canada". We are grateful that Canada may be a new home for Sudanese people fleeing conflict. This is an opportunity for Sudanese people to find safety and security, to rebuild their lives after their homes were looted or bombed, to access the basic needs they need after months of conflict, and for children who have been out of school for 10 months to resume their education. 

However, we strongly believe it is necessary for this policy to be revised in order to address the realities of Sudanese people fleeing conflict, to be as accessible as possible, to be reflective of Canada’s commitments to humanitarianism, to reflect Canada’s deep concern for the well-being of people affected by the conflict in Sudan, and to address the gaps in Canada’s immigration policies that perpetuate systemic anti-Black racism and anti-African racism. Further, we echo the calls of the Sudanese community in Quebec, as mentioned in their petition to the National Assembly of Quebec, that this policy must apply to all of Canada, including Quebec.

We are kindly requesting that the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship make the following changes: 

Create an accessible pathway for Sudanese people who have no family in Canada and cannot live in Sudan due to the war.

The "temporary public policy" will provide an opportunity for Sudanese people to seek safety in Canada only if they have a family member in Canada who is financially able to be an anchor. Given the fact that 10 million Sudanese people are currently displaced, Canada must open a pathway for any Sudanese person to seek safety and security in Canada. Canada has previously shown, through its programs for Afghans and Syrians, that it recognizes the importance of war-affected individuals  finding a new home in a safe and secure country. We urge the Canadian government to create an immigration program for all Sudanese nationals, not only those who may have family in Canada. 

Remove the limit of 3,250 applications (principal applicants) in the Temporary Public Policy.

Sudan is facing the largest internal displacement crisis and the largest child displacement crisis in the world. Further, many countries have closed their borders to Sudanese asylum seekers. The current cap of 3,250 applicants represents less than 0.05% of currently displaced Sudanese people, which is unacceptable. Canada must follow its own example; the Canadian response to displaced Ukrainians was exceptional, admitting an unlimited number of people on temporary visas and creating a pathway to permanent residence without a cap. The international community, with Canada as a leader, must allow more Sudanese people fleeing war to make a new home and remove the existing applicant cap.

Include individuals who were residing outside of Sudan before April 15, 2023 and are currently unable to return to their homes in Sudan.

Many Sudanese residents were outside of Sudan for travel at the onset of the war on April 15. Unable to return to Sudan, they are now stranded outside of Sudan with little to no resources in countries that they are not legal residents of. Additionally, due to economic and political instability in Sudan before the beginning of this war, many Sudanese people were forced to emigrate to other countries for a better life. However, many did not gain legal status in their new countries of residence, or have had difficulty accessing employment and education, and are now unable to return to Sudan due to the war. Therefore, all legal residents of Sudan who were outside of Sudan at the time of the war should be able to access this pathway and immigrate to Canada. 

Remove the financial requirements, including the minimum income and the requirement to financially support basic needs of the newly arrived Sudanese family member(s), and instead provide financial support from government bodies.

Since the beginning of the war, countless people in Sudan have lost their jobs, been looted, and lost all means of income or savings. Because of this, Sudanese-Canadians have been financially supporting their families and communities in Sudan and are therefore already financially stretched due to this pressure. Placing the burden of additional financial support on them to get their families to Canada and care for them while they are there will surely place many people in further precarious situations. Through the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program, the Canadian government provided Ukrainians with financial support. If Canada provides this same support to  newly arrived Sudanese people fleeing war who have lost everything, they will sooner be able to enter the workforce, resume education, and establish themselves, as many are already educated and employment ready. 

Expand the eligibility criteria of a principal applicant to include nieces, nephews, cousins, adopted family members and parents-in-law.

Due to the war and loss of life, there are individuals with no relatives other than their family in Canada. Given the extent of the damage this war has caused, it is insufficient for Sudanese Canadians to only assist those who fit within Canada's definition of family, which excludes extended family. Sudanese-Canadians have assumed the responsibility of taking care of their families and communities affected by the war in Sudan. This implies that those who come to Canada will receive support from their extended family in Canada.

Establish biometrics collection sites in Sudan, waive all associated fees to facilitate the principal applicants completing their biometric requirements, and waive the police clearance requirement.

There  are no biometric collection sites in Sudan. Due to the ongoing war, applicants are also unable to travel to neighbouring countries to reach the nearest facility to complete their biometric requirements. For that reason, it is crucial that the federal government establish biometrics collection sites inside Sudan to allow Sudanese applicants to complete the biometric requirements. Additionally, it is inhumane to make displaced war victims pay fees for a necessary requirement given the financial hardship that the Sudanese people have experienced as a result of this war. It is also currently impossible to receive a police clearance certificate in Sudan without a valid Sudanese passport. Given the nature of the conflict, many Sudanese people displaced by the war do not have valid passports, which means that this requirement excludes them. Making matters worse, ongoing telecommunications and internet blackouts in Sudan are preventing the few active passport offices from issuing new passports to Sudanese citizens. In the spirit of humanitarianism and a recognition of the hardships caused by this war, the federal government should completely waive the police clearance requirement.

Expedite the PR process for Sudanese refugees in Canada and refugee claimants’ asylum claims. 

Given that they are unable to return to Sudan due to the war and that Canada has become their new home, refugee claimants and refugees need their applications urgently assessed and expedited. 

Promote the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot and make it more accessible.

Educate Canadians and Sudanese people about this pathway and provide more avenues to apply for it, as it would provide an opportunity for educated, skilled, and professional Sudanese people displaced by war to live in Canada and contribute to the Canadian economy.

We echo the calls from the Canadian Council for Refugees to ensure immigration measures in response to emergencies are effective and equitable, no matter where in the world they occur: 

To ensure equity in access and to dismantle current perceptions that some lives are more valuable or worthy of protection than others, it will be important to make certain that these measures are made accessible to all without discrimination.

In particular, we want to draw attention to the fact that crises in Africa, despite being numerous, rarely, if ever, have been met with a Canadian immigration emergency response program.

At SSC, we strongly condemn the systemic anti-Black racism that leads to such immigration policies. We believe that implementing the above recommendations constitutes one concrete way for the Canadian government to address and combat systemic anti-Black racism, provide safety and security for those fleeing conflict, and set an example for the world on supporting the Sudanese people. 

Further, we ask that Canada advocate for humanitarian corridors in Sudan so that basic needs may reach those in conflict areas, and that Canada push for a permanent ceasefire between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces and support regional efforts that aim to negotiate an end to this brutal war. 

To sign on to this letter as an individual or as an organization, click here