Foreigners Who Chose to Stay in Sudan and Syrian Marriages in Shelter Centers

Report by Ruqayya Al-Zaki
While many foreigners fled Sudan due to the war that erupted two years ago, some chose to remain, relocating to safer cities within the country. They found themselves in shelter centers, sharing the hardships of conflict with Sudanese citizens.

According to statistics, more than 3.3 million people have been displaced, including refugees and migrants of various nationalities. Among them are Syrians now living in shelter centers. One Syrian refugee, who spent over 13 years in Khartoum, shared her experience, saying:
"We lived in safety and stability, but the war forced us to flee to shelter centers, where we now share the suffering of displacement and tragedy with Sudanese people."

In Port Sudan, a city on the Red Sea coast, the “Youth” shelter center has seen a significant presence of Syrians. These individuals initially sought to build new lives in Sudan after fleeing the war in their homeland, only to face the specter of displacement and conflict once again.

Stories of Displacement and Shared Lives
Mohamed Jamal Mamdouh, a Syrian national, recounted his story:
"I arrived in Sudan in 2006 and worked for a company before starting my own business. When the war in Syria broke out, I brought my family to Sudan, and we were settled until the war erupted here."

He added: "Now we are in Port Sudan. Many Syrians left due to the difficult circumstances, but we stayed, waiting for assistance that has yet to arrive. Nevertheless, the Sudanese have not let us down; they always treat us with generosity and dignity."

Omar Mohamed Jamal, another Syrian refugee, shared his experience:
"I worked in Khartoum in furniture and curtain-making and was successful in my work. But the war changed everything. We were displaced to Port Sudan, and I married a Sudanese woman according to Sudanese customs and traditions. We now live in a shelter center."

Tales of Waiting and Painful Memories
Farzat Fakhri, another Syrian refugee, said:
"We lived in Sudan for 13 years. In Khartoum, we were comfortable and happy, and the Sudanese treated us kindly. After the war, we were displaced to Shendi and then to Port Sudan, hoping to travel abroad, but we don’t have the money for that."

Since the beginning of the Syrian war, Sudan has been a safe haven for more than 150,000 Syrian refugees, allowing them to reside and work without visas. However, the war in Sudan has reopened old wounds, turning their renewed displacement into an additional burden.

Resilient Lives amid Adversity
Inside the “Youth” shelter center, one can find stories that oscillate between pain and hope. Some Syrians have defied harsh conditions and started anew, while others wait for the war to end and stability to return. Today, they live an experience that intertwines refuge and displacement, shared with Sudanese people amidst daily hardships and deferred dreams.