Refugees flood Sudan

KHARTOUM – A senior Sudanese official yesterday called for more international support to check human trafficking and migration across Sudan ’ s borders towards Europe, as European Union and African leaders met in Malta to discuss the migration crisis.

Many Eritreans and Ethiopians who make the perilous crossing to Europe across the Mediterranean enter eastern Sudan before travelling on. “Sudan needs more support to face these challenges, particularly tackling human trafficking and smuggling,” said Hamad Elgizouli, the government commissioner for refugees.

He was speaking as European leaders met their African counterparts in Valletta for a two-day conference to decide on joint action on the migration crisis.

There are 86 500 Eritreans in eastern Sudan, of whom 75 800 live in camps run by Sudan ’ s Commission of Refugees with support from the UN refugee agency UNHCR (UN High Commission for Refugees).

The UNHCR says 1 100 refugees arrive in eastern Sudan monthly, mostly Eritreans, estimating that some 80% of these intend to make the journey to Europe. But Elgizouli said the figure was higher, with some 60 to 70 refugees entering eastern Sudan daily.

Eritreans make up the thirdlargest number of those making the crossing to Europe, after Syrians and Afghans. –

PHOTO: PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP LIFE GOES ON: A file picture taken on March 30 this year of a boy carrying a bundle on his head as a man herds cattle across a section of Lake Chad whose waters border Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon in the village of Guite. The fate of Lake Chad and...