More than 13 million people in Sudan have now been displaced as we mark the third year of the conflict. With cuts to aid, Sudan is facing one of the deadliest famines in history. Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is calling on the Australian Government to urgently strengthen its response to this crisis.
As of November 2024, Australia has granted 1,248 visas to Sudanese citizens. Of these, 427 are visitor visas with the remaining consisting of family, resident return, skilled and student visas. Members of the Sudanese community are concerned that, despite visitor visas being granted last year, very few Sudanese nationals have since arrived in Australia.
The sheer magnitude of the suffering in Sudan demands a more equal and sustained response. Australia must adopt a reliable emergency response framework that ensures our actions are swift, predictable and consistently applied.
RCOA Deputy CEO Adama Kamara says while last year’s $50 million assistance from our Federal Government was welcomed, Australia must do more to reflect the gravity of this crisis.
“What we are seeing in Sudan is not just a humanitarian emergency, but a test of our shared humanity. We urge the government to respond with the same urgency and compassion we’ve seen in other crises, and to stand with the Sudanese community. This is not a crisis that can be ignored.”
An important action that the Australian Government can take is to allow Sudanese nationals who have previously had asylum claims rejected to reapply in light of the changed circumstances in Sudan, in line with the United Nations Refugee Agency’s updated advice on returns. Country information used to assess protection claims should be updated to reflect the current situation. Sudanese nationals should also be added as a priority group in the Refugee and Humanitarian Program, and Australia should work with the UN to issue emergency visas for those most at risk.
Australia must prioritise visa processing for Sudanese people who need to leave the country quickly and safely. This includes speeding up family, skilled, refugee, humanitarian, and visitor visas.
Members of the Sudanese community have expressed their concerns and outlined what is needed. They have shared that people on temporary visas are struggling and need better access to support. Right now, too many are being excluded from the program that was designed to help people in their situation. They are excluded based on restrictive eligibility criteria. A flexible and inclusive approach that recognises the unique and challenging circumstances people are facing is required.
Ms Kamara added, “Those arriving to Australia should have access to essential services like Medicare, schooling, financial support and not be subject to long waiting periods.”
The Refugee Council calls on the government to further increase its humanitarian aid in light of the cuts to USAID. The departure of USAID programs has already had devasting effects in Sudan, with the suspension of the program threatening to turn the country’s famine into the deadliest it’s been for half a century.
Australia has recognised that Sudan is facing the world’s greatest displacement and the largest hunger crisis, so it is time to ramp up our efforts to support the people of Sudan, both in Sudan and here in Australia.
