The challenges of elderly Sudanese refugees in Egypt – Something for the homeland – ✍️ Mr. Salah Ghariba
In light of ongoing conflicts in Sudan, thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety, including the most vulnerable group: the elderly. These men and women who had spent their lives building their community suddenly found themselves in a foreign land, carrying with them the burdens of the past and the hopes of an unknown future. In this context, the International Day of Older Persons reminds us of our humanitarian duty towards this group and calls on us to redouble our efforts to help them overcome their ordeal.
Older people face certain challenges, including health problems. Elderly refugees often suffer from chronic illnesses that require ongoing medical care, such as diabetes and heart disease. War and forced displacement also have profound psychological consequences and trauma on older people, such as depression. anxiety and post-traumatic stress syndrome. Elderly refugees struggle to access appropriate health care due to their family's busyness and lack of resources.
Social challenges are represented by social isolation through the loss of social support networks they relied on in Sudan (the country), which leads to a feeling of isolation and loneliness, and the difference in customs, traditions and cultural values between countries. Both the host community and the refugee community make the integration process difficult, and some older refugees may be exposed to discrimination based on their gender, age or ethnicity.
Economic challenges include loss of resources. Elderly refugees often lose their assets and sources of income when they flee their country. Older people may have difficulty finding suitable employment due to a lack of professional skills and experience in the local labor market.
Administrative and legal difficulties are evident in registration procedures, obtaining necessary documents and residency procedures in the host country can be difficult for older people. Due to administrative complexities, elderly refugees may not be aware of their legal rights. vulnerable to exploitation.
Proposed practical solutions to provide comprehensive health care, including primary and specialized care, medication and psychological rehabilitation, and build supportive communities to encourage volunteering and voluntary work, and launch initiatives among members of the local community of young Sudanese in Egypt to help the elderly. refugees, in addition to offering training programs for older people to enable them to participate in the labor market, providing adequate housing for older people, taking into account their particular needs, helping to simplify the administrative and legal procedures required by refugees, organize awareness campaigns on the rights of elderly refugees and the challenges they face, and strengthen cooperation between government organizations, non-governmental organizations and Sudanese communities in Egypt.
Elderly refugees constitute a human asset that must be preserved, because they carry invaluable experience and wisdom. By providing them with the necessary support, we can help them overcome their ordeal and contribute to building a more inclusive and tolerant society.
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