Hello, and thank you for having me.
My name is Ranya Elfil, and I'm a board member of the Sudanese Canadian Communities Association. Since the war in Sudan began in April 2023, I have worked extensively with IRCC to advocate for humanitarian pathways for Sudanese impacted by the war—a tradition Canada has upheld for many communities in times of crisis.
Sudan is facing genocide and the largest humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world. Today I'm here to share our community's experience with prolonged delays, inequitable processing and systemic disparities, and to outline how we can ensure no future community endures what we have.
When the war began, we submitted a policy brief calling for multiple immigration pathways. Initially, IRCC focused on a family reunification pathway, recognizing the direct impact on Canadians and permanent residents with loved ones trapped in Sudan. The program launched—after many delays—10 months later, in February 2024. It was capped at 3,250 applicants and later increased to 5,000.
Sponsors were required to assume full financial responsibility and demonstrate substantial income, or tens of thousands of dollars in available funds. Applicants, many of whom had lost everything, were required to pay high processing fees. As a result, our community transferred millions of dollars to IRCC, funds that could otherwise have supported displaced family members with urgent needs like food and medicine. This put an immense financial burden on the community. Just a couple of days ago, a young community member, Muna Jad Alrab—who, like many others, had to work multiple jobs to help support her family in displacement while waiting to be reunited with them—passed away suddenly in Montreal, leaving behind a grieving family and an enraged community.
We met those financial obligations. What we did not anticipate were extraordinary delays. In the first 13 months of the program, only 9% of applicants arrived in Canada. In October 2025, it was stated before this committee that Sudanese applications could face delays of up to 99 months. For people trapped in an active war zone, displaced without work, stability or safety, 99 months is not simply a delay. It's life-threatening. Approximately 7,000 to 8,000 individuals remain waiting.
We repeatedly warned IRCC and honourable ministers that prolonged processing in a conflict zone would have deadly consequences. Our committee has tracked cases of applicants who died from violence, heatstroke or lack of medical care while waiting. One Calgary sponsor applied in February 2024 to bring his sister and her four children. After months of delay, she was killed when her city was stormed by RSF forces. Her children remain unprocessed. These are not abstract cases; these were preventable losses.
We are also deeply concerned about a reduction in government-assisted refugee, GAR, commitments. In September 2024, IRCC committed to resettle 4,000 Sudanese GARs per year from 2025 to 2027, with a focus on women impacted by gender-based violence. By March 2025, the commitment was reduced to 4,000 total arrivals by the end of 2026, effectively cutting the pledge to a third. An earlier request to waive refugee status determination requirements—allowing more Sudanese to access private and community sponsorship programs—was capped at only 700 individuals. At a time when Sudan faces the world's largest displacement crisis, scaling back commitments sends a troubling signal about prioritization and responsiveness.
We have also repeatedly raised cases of children with Canadian citizenship stranded in Sudan.