Tragedy of Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees in Sudan

Sudan is one of the largest hosts of refugees in Africa. While South Sudanese constitute the majority, Sudan’s territory hosts many who have been forced by conditions of violence and persecution in neighboring countries to seek refuge, including from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Chad, and more recently Syria and Yemen.

Sudan hosts 1,144,675 refugees and asylum seekers, according to the UNHCR in March, which added that “most refugees live in out-of-camp settlements, host communities and urban areas, while others stay in 24 camps (10 in Eastern Sudan, 1 in Blue Nile State, 10 in White Nile State, 2 in East Darfur State and 1 in the Central Darfur State).”

The recent outbreak of fighting in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has increased the suffering of the refugees, especially those who live in cities that witnessed battles, such as the capital Khartoum and the five states of Darfur.

Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees

According to UNHCR statistics, the number of Eritrean refugees reached 137,402, coming in second place at 12% after the South Sudanese (70.6%), while the number of Ethiopian refugees reached 72,334, ranking fourth at 6.3%.

UN estimates tell us that the largest proportion of Eritrean refugees (79%) are concentrated in the eastern state of Kassala, which borders Eritrea. On the other hand, statistics show that Ethiopian refugees are concentrated in a similar percentage in the eastern state of Gedaref, adjacent to the border with Ethiopia.

However, the presence of Eritreans and Ethiopians in Sudan remains a reality that goes beyond numbers. The presence of Eritreans in Sudan dates back to long ago, but their presence intensified in the late 1960s. There are also the common border tribes between Sudan and both countries.

In Khartoum, which witnessed the most intense military confrontations since mid-April, there are neighborhoods famous for the dense presence of Eritreans and Ethiopians, such as Al-Daim and Al-Jerif West. The first is one of the most affected areas in the ongoing war due to its location in the heart of Khartoum, near the army headquarters and the capital's airport, where fierce battles are taking place.

Appeal

Because of the political circumstances that forced them to take refuge in Sudan, Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees are not able to return to their countries. For most Eritreans, returning could mean imprisonment for desertion or opposition to the regime. As for the Ethiopians, most of the refugees are from the Tigray region, which recently fought a civil war with the federal government.

While Eritrea closed its borders in the face of those fleeing the hell of Sudan, UNCHR statistics show that only 43 Ethiopians crossed their country's borders five weeks after the start of the fighting.

Eritreans and Ethiopians preferred to join their families and acquaintances in refugee camps in Kassala and Gedaref, respectively. The latest UNHCR update says that 1,394 Eritreans have crossed into South Sudan, and that it has helped more than 500 move to refugee camps in South Sudan.

On May 12, Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees issued a letter, of which Jusoor Post obtained a copy, in which they demanded to relocate from Sudan to a safe third country. The letter explained that the UNHCR did not provide any assistance to them during the past 27 days from the start of the fighting.

The letter included other demands made to the UNHCR, such as avoiding a repeat of the fate of Eritrean refugees in Tigray, Ethiopia, and ensuring the protection of Tigray against potential threats from the Ethiopian government.

In the letter, they also called on the UNHCR to ensure their safety and security, and to prevent the recurrence of injustice, arbitrary arrests and kidnappings by police or security officers.

According to a report by the Guardian on May 7, more than 3,500 Eritreans have been forcibly deported across the border to the Eritrean town of Teseney near the Sudanese border in recent weeks. Most of them were deserters, while some were taken directly to prison because of their opposition to the Eritrean regime. 

The report also included an accusation against the UNHCR of turning away some Eritreans from the camps under the pretext of scarcity of resources, which the UNHCR denied. However, the latter said that it is communicating with the Sudanese authorities regarding the forced return of Eritrean refugees to their country.

Speaking to Jusoor Post, an Eritrean refugee who fled from Khartoum to Kassala State, who requested that her name be withheld for security reasons, said that a number of Eritrean refugees were killed during the fighting in Khartoum.

“We were badly treated by the two warring parties along the way we fled from Khartoum. The soldiers took our phones and money, and women in particular were subjected to ill-treatment that amounted to physical and verbal harassment,” said the Eritrean refugee.