(C) The Conversation This story was originally published by The Conversation and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Canada’s family-based immigration program for Sudanese fleeing war is too little, too late [1] ['Bantayehu Shiferaw Chanie', 'Christina Clark-Kazak'] Date: 2024-06-19 14:27:31+00:00 Sudan’s civil war has forcibly displaced more than 9.2 million people since it began in April 2023. This represents not only the largest internal displacement situation globally, it’s also a growing humanitarian emergency affecting 25 million people. In February 2024, the Canadian government launched a humanitarian immigration program for Sudanese with a family “anchor” in Canada. Capped at 3,250 applications, the program was no longer accepting submissions as of May 6, 2024, despite stringent requirements. Canada’s immigration policy for Sudanese people is an insufficient response to the scale and gravity of displacement in and from Sudan. Deep-rooted conflict (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) Sudan became embroiled in civil war due to a derailed political transition and failed state formation. The conflict is fuelled by power struggles between two military leaders, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Fourteen months after the conflict erupted, neither of the conflicting parties have declared victory. The recent SRF attack in Wad Al-Noura, Gezira State, killed 200 people, including 35 children. The conflict is likely to persist, and has the potential to expand since each party has invited governments of neighbouring countries to participate in the conflict on their respective sides. The Jeddah Talks and commitments made in November 2023 between the warring parties have not borne fruit. If the war continues unabated, it will further militarize Sudanese society, reduce the state to a battleground for various warlords and potentially cause one of the largest refugee situations in Africa. Read more: Sudan's civil war is rooted in its historical favouritism of Arab and Islamic identity Canada’s insufficient response The federal government waited 10 months after civil war broke out before announcing the limited family reunification program disguised as a humanitarian refugee pathway. The permanent residence program is restricted to people who “resided in Sudan when the conflict began on April 15, 2023” and who “are the child, grandchild, parent or sibling” of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident residing in Canada outside the province of Québec. Read more: Asylum seekers from Gaza and Sudan face prejudiced policies and bureaucratic hurdles The family “anchor” in Canada must sign an agreement to support their family members from Sudan. They must also provide proof of minimum income to demonstrate they have the financial capacity to provide “basic needs, including housing, food, clothing and other basic necessities of life.” This downloads integration and settlement responsibilities onto Canada-based family members. And by capping applications at 3,250 and limiting eligibility to Sudanese with family in Canada, the Canadian government is leaving millions behind. (AP Photo) Three recommendations In the face of the largest displacement situation in the world, we urge the Canadian government to take leadership in three key areas: [END] --- [1] Url: https://theconversation.com/canadas-family-based-immigration-program-for-sudanese-fleeing-war-is-too-little-too-late-232202 Published and (C) by The Conversation Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons CC BY-ND 4.0. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/theconversation/