Ramadan Kareem Amidst Conflict, Families Seek Refuge

As people in Dongola, Sudan prepare for the holy month of Ramadan, the country is grappling with a devastating civil war that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and over 12 million displaced people. The conflict has led to severe economic hardship, particularly in areas directly affected by the war, where famine, displacement, and shortages are rampant.

In areas like Port Sudan, prices for essential items have skyrocketed, making it difficult for residents to afford basic goods, including food and staples like sugar, veal, and mutton, ahead of Ramadan. The situation is further complicated by the fact that many families have been separated due to the conflict, with some trying to reunite with their loved ones in countries like Canada. However, the Canadian government's reunification program has been slow to act, with only 179 people arriving in Canada from the Sudanese reunification program, despite thousands of applications.

The author, Roaa Elmahi, has personally experienced the tragedy of the conflict, having lost her aunt who died in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Her family had applied to bring her aunt and cousins to Canada under the reunification program, but their application was rejected due to program limits, and her aunt was forced to flee to Egypt, where she later died. Elmahi argues that Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been slow to act and that the program's financial requirements are inaccessible to many Sudanese families.

As Ramadan approaches, many Sudanese-Canadian families are struggling to meet the program's requirements and fearing they may never see their families again. The need for urgent action to reunite families and provide a safe haven for those fleeing conflict is more pressing than ever. It is essential for the Canadian government to address the systematic racism inflicted on the community and be more transparent with timelines to prevent more families from facing the same grief.