AMERICAN AFRICAN FOUNDATION AGAINST TORTURE و قضية اللاجئين بالقاهرة

Quote: AMERICAN AFRICAN FOUNDATION AGAINST TORTURE PO Box 813 Schenectady NY 12301 USA Telephone: 518-347-3646 Email:[email protected] President: Zainelabdin E Osman December 15, 2005 Honorable Jose Manuel Barroso President of the European Commission 1049 Brussele, Belgium Most Honorable President Barroso: This is an urgent plea for your help with the crisis at the UNHCR in Cairo, Egypt. At this time there are over 4,000 desperate Sudanese men , women and children quietly camped out in front of the UNHCR waiting for humanitarian assistance. These are gentle,kind people who have fled their oppressive and violent government. The Sudanese entered Egypt with the hope and promise of protection, security and a future free of terror and harassment. Since their peaceful protest began 77 days ago , on September 25, 2005, eight people have died including a 4 year old boy by the name of Kwal Deng who died just this past weekend from exposure while lying in his mother's arms. The only protection from the elements these people have are the few sheets and blankets some may have brought with them. Their food and water supplies have been depleted. Their spirits are painfully diminished. There is no medical attention. Tuberculosis is becoming a common disease. The education their children are receiving is a mere existence. Their home is now the hectic city street of Cairo. The security they had been promised is compromised by both the Sudanese Embassy and Egyptian Security Forces. The harassment and humiliation the refugees must endure the constant. Safe passage into a third country that will allow the basic human rights we all deserve is the basic request of the refugees. They can not leave Cairo to return to Sudan. This is not a choice they can make. To return to Sudan is certain death. To stay in Cairo no better. Their hopes are lying with the world community to come to their aid. Please help these people. Please insist the world community negotiate with the Egyptian government and provide safe passage for the refugees into a third country. Open the closed refugee files, allow for new applicants to be processed, provide necessary medical assistance for the sick, the small and the elderly. Reassure the refugees that they will not be forced to reenter the country they fled out of terror. Your help is desperately needed. Sincerely Zainelabdin E. Osman President