Phayza is a community advocate from Sudan. On the one-year anniversary of the war, she explains how refugees from Sudan are struggling in the UK, and why they need a fairer approach.

“The war in Sudan has been going on for a year now. People in Sudan, they’ve lost everything! It’s not reported at all here, even on the news. I’m trying to raise awareness.

People have been traumatised, lost everything, families from the same household are not living together as they are dispersed all over the world. This has affected their mental health. Refugees in the UK need support, people need to listen to their stories.

People should be allowed to bring their families here. I’d like to bring some of my family, I have lived here for 19 years here, I’m working, I can definitely support them.

People are discriminated against.

Refugees from Sudan have been treated unfairly. People who have been evacuated and came to the UK in this emergency are really struggling.

Some people come by trafficking, by boat, they have horrific journeys coming to the UK. They are hoping for sanctuary. But many people are living in temporary accommodation and some are homeless, on the street, and are suffering mentally. People are discriminated against.

We’ve had links with Britain for a long time, but we’re let down by them now. It’s very sad. We have so many scholars from Sudan, educated people, we could do so much to help our country, but we don’t have the opportunity.

The capital city Khartoum was completely destroyed, including hospitals, schools, people’s houses, markets, banks etc. People’s houses are being occupied or destroyed and their property is being stolen. Almost 14 thousand civilians have been killed by both forces. 10 million were displaced internally or fled to neighbouring countries.

We’re hoping for democracy. We had a revolution in 2019, after that we had hope, but these two military forces are fighting, they’re destroying the country. They commit atrocities. We have mines, we have oil, we have land, we have our gold, and many other natural resources – as a result we’re a poor country, with people on the street. But we’re not going to give up. We’re not going to lose hope.” ■

Refugees from Sudan do not have safe ways to claim asylum in the UK. They face hostile policies, long waits, and unfair rules which make it harder for them to rebuild their lives and recover from their trauma.

We believe all refugees escaping war and persecution deserve fair and humane treatment. On this sad anniversary, we stand with refugees from Sudan.