Members of the Sudanese community in Toronto expressed feeling abandoned by the Canadian government as violence in Sudan escalated, despite a humanitarian ceasefire proposal accepted by Sudan’s paramilitary with the support of the United States and Arab powers. Rebel forces seized control of El Fasher on Oct. 26 after an 18-month siege, leading to reports of extortion, rape, and mass civilian killings.
Mamoun Hassan, a Sudanese Canadian filmmaker residing in the Greater Toronto Area, conveyed the community’s sense of betrayal by Canada’s inadequate response to the humanitarian crisis. He highlighted the perception of unfulfilled promises of care and support from the Canadian government.
The ongoing civil war in Sudan, labeled by the United Nations as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, began in April 2023, primarily involving the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Following the RSF’s capture of El Fasher, widespread massacres and mass displacements were reported, prompting tens of thousands of Sudanese civilians to flee the region.
In Toronto, individuals like Iman Abbaro mourned the situation, emphasizing the layered grief experienced by the community. Abbaro criticized the insufficient Canadian response, urging the government to align with its pro-refugee and pro-immigration stance by facilitating asylum for Sudanese individuals seeking refuge in Canada.
While the Canadian government implemented measures such as allowing Sudanese nationals to extend their stay and family reunification programs, Hassan believed these actions fell short compared to responses to other refugee groups. He pointed out discrepancies in the treatment of different refugee populations and called for a more humane approach towards Sudanese refugees.
The York University Sudanese Student Association joined the call for coordinated humanitarian aid, urging the Canadian government and the global community to take decisive action to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the conflict in Sudan. Jeffrey MacDonald, a communications advisor for IRCC, expressed Canada’s concern for the Sudanese crisis and highlighted efforts to process more family sponsorship applications.
Ismail Kabar, a Toronto resident originally from Darfur, participated in a peaceful protest to raise awareness and seek a stronger international humanitarian response to the crisis. Concerned about his cousin trapped in El Fasher, Kabar appealed to Canadians to support humanitarian efforts for the Sudanese population affected by the conflict, emphasizing the urgent need for assistance.
