Urgent Action: SUDANESE IN EGYPT RISK DETENTION AND DEPORTATION (Egypt 56.24)

Since September 2023, the Egyptian authorities have carried out mass arrests of Sudanese refugees for entering or remaining in the country irregularly. Those arrested were held for periods ranging from a few days up to six weeks in cruel and inhuman conditions of detention, before being forcibly deported to Sudan without individualized assessment of risk upon their return, or the opportunity to claim asylum or challenge deportation decisions. Tens of thousands of other undocumented Sudanese nationals remain at risk of arbitrary detention and forced return solely for their migration status.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: August 14, 2024

take action:

• Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
• Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 56.24. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.

contact information:

sample letter:

Dear Minister,

I am gravely concerned about the arbitrary arrests and detention of Sudanese nationals in Egypt solely for their migration status, and their forced returns to Sudan, where an internal armed conflict has raged since April 2023. These unlawful deportations are taking place without individualized risk assessments or the possibility to claim asylum. Tens of thousands of undocumented Sudanese refugees, including those awaiting appointments with UNCHR, are also at risk of arbitrary detention, and forced return to Sudan. 

Since September 2023, Egyptian police and Border Guard Forces have been carrying out mass arrests of Sudanese refugees based on their migration status, with UNHCR reporting the deportation of at least 3,000 people that month alone.

I urge you to immediately halt all collective expulsions to Sudan and respect the principle of non-refoulement. I also urge you to end the arbitrary arrest and detention of Sudanese nationals solely based on their migration status; and immediately release all those arbitrarily detained. Pending their release, ensure that they are held in conditions in line with the international standards on the treatment of prisoners, and have access to their families, lawyers, and any required medical care.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• READ THE FULL URGENT ACTION: Wordopens in a new tab or PDFopens in a new tab
• GET INSPIRED: Read about the people you have helped
• READ TIPS for writing effective letters and emails
• CONTACT US: [email protected]