Jahi Chikwendiu

Misplaced Hope: Sudanese Refugees in Cairo, Egypt

Story Summary:

Between 750,000 and 4 million Sudanese refugees from the war-torn areas of South Sudan and Darfur have found themselves hustling for limited resources and jobs alongside some of Egypt’s poorest citizens. Besides economics, race hides behind another layer of tension between the darker-skinned Sudanese and the lighter-skinned Arab Egyptians. Many Sudanese complain about being the frequent targets of racial discrimination – by both Egyptian civilians and police - where taunts often turn to violence. Refugees from South Sudan are starting to trickle home after more than 20 years of civil war in Sudan. Those from Darfur don’t have the same luxury, their homeland still strife with war.

Refugees from Sudan - one from Darfur, the other from South Sudan - make a barbershop of a street corner in Arba wa Nus - an unofficial, build-as-you-can-afford village on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. The village houses a few thousand refugees from south Sudan and Darfur who hustle for limited resources and jobs alongside some of Egypt’s poorest citizens.
   
The daughter of Ahmed Halouf Moneim stares out the window of the family flat in Arba wa Nus, a build-as-you-can-afford village on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. Egypt already plays host to millions of refugees from around 35 countries. There are up to 4 million refugees from Sudan, including the war-torn areas of South Sudan and Darfur.
   
An Egptian man breaks up a fight between an Egyptian boy in Cairo, Egypt. Many Sudanese complain about being the frequent targets of racial discrimination – by both Egyptian civilians and police - where taunts often turn to violence. One young man who came from south Sudan in 2002 says he tries to ignore the frequent verbal assaults but admits that it makes him angry. “I try not to fight even if a fight is picked,” he says, “because I know the fight is not just with one. There would be a million other Egyptians who would come and help the Egyptian.”