The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that it will waive fines for Sudanese passport holders who have overstayed their residence in the country. The move by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) aims to provide relief amidst the ongoing violence in Sudan. Those with expired visas, residency permits, or departure deadlines from the UAE will be eligible for the fine exemption. The Sudanese embassy has expressed gratitude to the UAE leadership for their support in this matter.
Humanitarian Aid By UAE Government
In addition to the visa relaxation, the UAE government is extending humanitarian aid to Sudan. Recently, an aid ship carrying 1,000 tons of supplies and food arrived in Port Sudan. Furthermore, the UAE has sent nine planes to evacuate nearly 1,000 people from the violence torn country. These efforts demonstrate the UAE’s commitment to assisting Sudan during this challenging time.
This announcement follows Saudi Arabia’s decision to extend Umrah visas for Sudanese pilgrims. Because they are unable to return home due to the situation in their country. Saudi Arabia has also introduced the “Hosting Sudanese Umrah Performers” program. It allows citizens, residents, and Saudi nationals to host Sudanese individuals on Umrah visas by converting them into visitor visas at no cost.
Sudan continues to grapple with a wave of violence, resulting in a significant loss of life and numerous injuries. The conflict between forces loyal to Sudan’s military chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy-turned-rival, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has entered its sixth week. Ceasefire agreements have been repeatedly violated, diminishing hopes for a swift resolution to the violence.
As a result of the ongoing conflict, tens of thousands of Sudanese citizens have fled to neighboring Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan in search of safety. The situation remains critical, requiring international support and intervention to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
