Khartoum: The Commissioner for Refugees, Dr. Nizar Al-Tijani Ahmed Abu Al-Gasim, held a meeting at the Refugee Commission headquarters in Khartoum with a delegation from the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) on Sunday. The meeting, attended by the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Sudan, Ms. Marie Helene, aimed to discuss the challenges facing Sudan in the aftermath of the war, particularly the destruction of infrastructure and civilian facilities.
According to Sudan News Agency, the discussions focused on the efforts by the Commission and its national and international partners to resume refugee registration operations and issue identification documents. This initiative is set to commence in the first week of May, despite the challenges posed by the destruction and theft of registration equipment. Dr. Nizar highlighted that over 35,000 asylum seekers are awaiting registration, with plans underway to introduce a new refugee card featuring a foreign identification number.
Dr. Nizar further emphasized the Commission's pursuit of sustainable solutions through development projects that require international funding. These projects, including agricultural initiatives, aim to benefit both refugee and host communities in White Nile State, especially in light of a significant reduction in UN funding. The European delegation expressed their commitment to collaborating with EU member states to formulate high-priority programmes for Sudan, emphasizing development-oriented interventions.