A Sudanese-Canadian citizen is seeking to help her adoptive sister and her children escape Sudan, where they have been stranded for over ten weeks due to the civil war.
Sami Atabani believed the Canadian government would evacuate his adopted sister, 43-year-old Kholoud Yagoob Abdallah, even though she is not Canadian.
Abdallah lives with her seven children in Omdurman, one of Sudan’s three capital cities, where the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fight frequently.
She’s in danger despite leaving the fighting.
We fear for their safety. Atabani claimed they struggled to reassure his 91-year-old mother of Abdallah’s safety.
Due to Sudan’s complicated adoption rules, Atabani’s parents became Abdallah’s legal guardians.
She does not become eligible for Canada’s and other countries’ Sudan evacuations as an immediate family member.
Six of her children lack passports, but Canadian authorities said she may apply for refugee status.
“She cannot get to a third country, she doesn’t have passports, it is impossible for her to leave the country,” said British resident Atabani.
“Assist Sudanese nationals affected by the conflict” was Canada’s goal, according to an IRCC official.
