9.12.2024
Sudanese Women Union – Norway Oslo, 08 December 2024
Sudanese Human Rights Activists – Norway
1
Subject: Letter of Appeal
For better conditions of the Sudanese Refugees in Egypt
To: The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mr. Aldul Fatah Al Sisi
CC:
The Prime Minister of Norway, Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre,
The Honourable Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Espen Barth Eide,
His Excellency Ambassador of Egypt in Norway, Mr. Amr Ramadan,
Dear Mr. President,
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter of appeal. What prompts us to write
to you is our belief that our two nations, Egypt and Sudan, have a long and special
bond rooted deeply in our shared history and culture.
On April 8th, 2004, Egypt and Sudan signed the Agreement of the Four Freedoms
which began, “In fulfilment of the wish of the two brotherly peoples of Egypt and
Sudan and their aspirations for unity, progress and the formulation of a new way of
life on the land of the valley of the Nile.” A copy of the agreement is attached.
Today, UNHCR estimates that there are 1,2 million Sudanese refugees living in
Egypt. Most of these Sudanese are living there in dire situations as refugees, lacking
many of the rights granted to them by the Four Freedoms agreement, or UN
convention, to which Egypt is a signatory to both.
Specifically, these Sudanese refugees live under direct violation of the following
paragraphs of the Four Freedoms agreement:
– Right of movement and residence: Many refugees can not leave the country
and come back unless they pay over 2500 USD every time they are departing
or entering the country.
– Right to work and to own property: Many refugees have great difficulty
accessing the job market adding to their already very dire economic situation.
– General provisions: Without prejudice to the provisions of this agreement,
measures to protect health, security and public order shall be respected.
Today many refugees are unprotected of these provisions.
– Guarantee of rights gained: Rights gained by any citizen of the two countries
under this agreement shall not be affected in the event of the expiry for any
reason of the agreement. Unfortunately, today many of these rights are denied
to our people.
We would like to highlight that while Sudanese citizens in Egypt experience daily
violations of their rights. In the meantime, Egyptian citizens who are still living in
Sudan as well as Egyptian traders and merchants move freely across the northern
Sudanese Women Union – Norway Oslo, 08 December 2024
Sudanese Human Rights Activists – Norway
2
boarder daily enjoying all the protection that the very same agreement guarantees
them ensuring substantial economic advantages over their Sudanese counterparts.
This is simply wrong and unfair. It’s legally and morally wrong. Sudan needs Egypt
now more than ever. Sudan and Egypt’s interests have been intertwined not just
today, but for thousands of years, and they will continue to be so for the next
thousand years.
Mr. President, Mr. Prime minister
We appeal to Norway and Egypt to exert maximum pressure and to show strong
political will to ensure the end of the war in Sudan so that Sudanese people can
return back to their country and can regain their dignity.
We end our letter to you by listing out some horrifying statistics from the war in
Sudan. We hope that the two countries use their leverage to help the people of Sudan
during these extraordinarily difficult times. Below is a non-exhaustive list over the
humanitarian crisis:
– Over 14,000 people have been killed, and tens of thousands have been
wounded.
– More than 8.6 million people have been forced to flee their homes, with
around 1.8 million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.
– Approximately 25 million people, including over 14 million children,
require humanitarian assistance.
– About 17.7 million people are facing acute food insecurity, with 4.9
million on the brink of famine.
– Around 65% of the population lacks access to healthcare, and 70-80% of
hospitals in conflict-affected areas are non-functional.
The situation is dire, and the need for international support is critical.
Kind Regards,
Sudanese Women Union – Norway, Sudanese Human Rights Activists – Norway
The Sudanese Association in Norway
Oslo, 08th December 2024