Left Behind: Canada's Unequal Welcome for Sudanese Families

When War Tore Through Sudan, They Came Seeking Safety. Canada's Doors Remained Shut.

The conflict in Sudan has created one of the world's largest and most devastating displacement crises, forcing millions to flee violence and famine. Yet, while Canada has historically opened its arms with robust, federally-funded programs for refugees from crises like those in Syria and Ukraine, Sudanese newcomers have been largely excluded from this life-saving support.

This isn't just a policy gap—it's a humanitarian double standard that has placed an unsustainable burden on Sudanese-Canadian families and left newcomers in a state of immediate destitution.

CAS has stepped up when no one else would. But we cannot do it alone.

The arrival of Sudanese newcomers

in Canada under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program has placed significant financial and social pressures on Sudanese Canadian host families and the broader community. Unlike previous refugee resettlement waves, where the Canadian government provided direct financial and settlement support, the Sudanese crisis has been marked by an absence of government-led assistance. This section outlines the critical impacts observed among the Sudanese Canadian community.

Total Estimated Additional Cost per Host Family: CAD 21,800   Directly attributable to hosting newcomers