‘Impose no-fly zone’

Civilians hold a peaceful demonstration in front of various embassies in Cairo

People gathered outside embassies of the US, Canada and EU countries in Cairo on Wednesday to appeal for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.The peaceful demonstration demanded the protection of civilians from the attacks orchestrated by the Sudanese Air Force.

Abdul Aziz Htaib, one of the protesters, told Radio Dabanga, “The arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Courth (ICC) in the Hague against the Sudanese president Omar Al Bashir, Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb must be implemented.”

The above mentioned Sudanese leaders are wanted by the ICC for having committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Asylum seekers demand status

On the other hand, Sudanese asylum seekers continued on the 12th day of their sit-in protest in front of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cairo.

The protesters have decided not to call an end to the protest until their demands of being granted a refugee status is not met. They complained of poor humanitarian, health and food conditions.

Duma Idriss Handal told Radio Dabanga, “We want resettlement in a third country. Our status needs to change.”

Though exact figures are not known, it is estimated that there are tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees in Egypt from the ongoing conflicts in the war-ravaged country.