Mohamed El-Sayed-Aswan

Deep concern and difficult situation for dozens of Sudanese stranded on the Egyptian-Sudanese border, after their country's authorities refused to allow them to cross and return for fear of spreading the Corona virus.

Sudan decided on March 12 to suspend its flights to a number of countries affected by the Corona virus and to ban the citizens of those countries from entering the country, namely Korea, China, Italy, France, Spain and Japan, in addition to Egypt.

And the Sudanese citizen, Adnan Khaled, holds the authorities of their country responsible for the lives of more than 800 stuck people, one of whom died due to kidney failure, as there is no adequate medical care, while some of them have suffered from mental illnesses due to the increased anxiety, tension and ambiguity of their fate.

The Sudanese citizen, Hassan Babiker Al-Shafi’i, explains that the security ambush of the city of Sebai’a, south of Aswan, stopped on March 18 this year, 24 buses leaving Egypt on their way to Sudan, due to the Sudanese embassy in Cairo refusing to allow it to cross at the present time.

Reproach for hose
Babiker notes that the crossing was open 13 days ago to all Egyptians coming from Sudan, where about 1,400 Egyptians crossed, adding, "But at the same time they told us that the Sudanese are not allowed to cross," wondering at the return of all Sudanese nationals from most countries except Egypt.

"The government should treat us like the nationals of the countries that were keen to bring their citizens after the outbreak of the Corona epidemic, and even sent them planes to return to their country," he said.

Concerning their conditions as stranded, Babiker explained that his brother is sick and underwent an operation in Cairo to install three stents in the arteries, and he is suffering now after he was forced to lay the ground deprived of any health care.

Babiker criticizes the Sudanese ambassador in Cairo not coming to see their crisis closely, denying his statements on one of the Sudanese channels by providing them with support, saying, "We thank Al-Sa’idah, if it were not for our affairs, it would get worse, as they give us daily meals as a hospitality."

As for the Sudanese citizen Abdullah Mohamed Badawi, he explains that he came to Egypt to treat his 6-month-old child, and he underwent two surgeries at a cost of 90 thousand Egyptian pounds (the dollar is less than 16 pounds) until he ran out of all his money.

Badawi is surprised that his country's government does not allow entry into Sudan, stressing that all stranded people do not refuse to submit to quarantine, especially as it is in their best interest first and in the interest of their families and friends second.