Sudanese Canadians decry delays in bringing their family members to safety
The crisis in Sudan continues to worsen, with tens of thousands of lives lost and millions of people facing acute food insecurity. Ismail Adam, a Canadian resident from Mississauga, Ont., has been living in fear for over a year and a half as his parents, brother, and sister are caught in the crossfires of the conflict in Sudan. Forced to flee their home in Khartoum following a violent raid, they have been constantly on the move as internally displaced persons.
Adam applied for the Canadian government’s family-based pathway program as soon as it was launched in February 2024, but has yet to receive a response. The program, which aimed to bring families of Canadian citizens or permanent residents from Sudan to safety in Canada, reached its cap of 3,250 applications within a few months. However, only 340 people have been approved to come to Canada nearly 11 months after the program’s launch.
Nagwa El Mamoun, an immigration consultant in Oakville, Ont., expressed disappointment in the slow progress of the program. She highlighted the urgency of the situation in Sudan and compared Canada’s response to other humanitarian crises, such as the expedited intake of Syrian refugees during the civil war. El Mamoun and others in the Sudanese community believe that there is a double standard in how Canada handles refugee applications from different countries.
Khalid Medani, a professor at McGill University, raised concerns about the low number of refugees being accepted from Sudan and suggested that racial bias may be a factor in the slow process. He emphasized the need for a more equitable and expedited program to bring families from Sudan to safety in Canada.
In response to these concerns, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated that they are committed to a fair and non-discriminatory application process. They are reviewing Canada’s immigration system to ensure fairness, equity, and cultural sensitivity in their programs and policies.
Meanwhile, Ismail Adam continues to fear for the health and safety of his family members in Sudan, especially his elderly parents who have fallen sick multiple times. With limited access to medical care and the constant threat of violence, Adam is urgently calling on the federal government to expedite the process of bringing his family and others like his to Canada.
The situation in Sudan is dire, and the need for immediate action to bring vulnerable individuals to safety is crucial. Adam’s plea for his family’s safety reflects the urgency of the situation and the importance of addressing racial biases in the refugee application process. Canada must do more to ensure that those fleeing conflict and persecution in Sudan are given a fair and expedited pathway to safety and security in Canada.
