Tough new travel rules imposed by Sudanese junta authorities are leaving thousands of war-weary refugees stranded in Egypt, unable to return home.
The Voluntary Return Committee now requires all departing Sudanese citizens to present either a valid passport or an emergency travel document issued by the Sudanese embassy.
The requirement has blocked many vulnerable families from returning, as their travel documents expired during years of displacement.
Obtaining an emergency certificate costs $30 and often requires applicants to endure long waits at the Sudanese embassy in Cairo.
Many stranded refugees are already struggling with rising living costs, expensive private school fees, and low-paying factory jobs across Egypt.
At the same time, anti-Sudanese rhetoric has intensified on social media, adding to the challenges faced by displaced families.
Refugees also report periodic security operations targeting neighborhoods with large Sudanese communities.
In Sudan, ongoing fighting in the north has disrupted key road routes, making travel even more difficult.
Extreme summer heat and high bus fares have further discouraged many impoverished families from attempting the long journey to the border.
More than one million Sudanese have fled to Egypt since the war broke out in Sudan.
