“Have Health Crises in Egypt Been Exploited to Spread Rumors and Hate Speech Against Sudanese People?”

 Written by Ahmed Sabry

Egypt has recently faced a series of consecutive crises, with some blame, albeit partially, directed at Sudanese refugees. Issues such as skyrocketing real estate prices in certain areas, an outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses in Aswan governorate, and a shortage of medications have led to increased calls for the expulsion of Sudanese nationals.

This investigation will focus on two significant health crises that have gained substantial attention, with Sudanese refugees being unfairly blamed due to rampant rumors and the spread of hate speech among some individuals. Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal war for over a year, with the Sudanese army fighting against the Rapid Support Forces, causing tens of thousands of citizens to flee to neighboring countries, including Egypt.

During this period, Egypt welcomed Sudanese refugees without requiring a visa, considering the humanitarian situation they faced due to the war.

According to statements from Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, the number of Sudanese in Egypt currently exceeds five million. Data from the UN Refugee Agency in Cairo indicates that the number of Sudanese refugees in Egypt has increased fivefold since the outbreak of the war, representing over 52% of the total registered refugees in the country, although most Sudanese refugees are not officially registered.

This investigation will discuss two examples of health crises that have emerged in the country recently, with direct accusations aimed at Sudanese individuals.

Gastrointestinal Illness Crisis in Aswan

Although the crisis involving cases of gastrointestinal illnesses and a small number of fatalities in Aswan governorate has concluded, social media continues to be flooded with posts blaming Sudan for the outbreak.

The crisis began in mid-September when citizens raised their voices on social media, urging authorities to intervene amid rising cases of gastrointestinal infections in certain areas of Aswan. This prompted the Egyptian Ministry of Health to establish investigation committees to address the issue.

Social media, particularly on Twitter and TikTok, was filled with videos and posts urging citizens to take precautions against a cholera outbreak, attributing the cause to the presence of Sudanese refugees in those areas.

It is noteworthy that Aswan is a border governorate between Egypt and Sudan, home to a Sudanese community and familial ties due to tribes that exist in both countries. Additionally, many Sudanese have settled in the governorate due to the ongoing conflict.

During this period, we observed hashtags and posts calling for the government to expel refugees, attributing the crisis to them. Some of these hashtags included: #Egypt_for_Egyptians_Not_Refugees, #Deport_Sudanese_from_Egypt, #Deport_All_Refugees_Is_a_Popular_Demand, and #Deport_Visitors_Is_a_Popular_Demand.

These posts and tweets accusing Sudan of causing the crisis emerged despite the absence of any official government statement regarding the cause of the illnesses. A few days later, the government announced that the issue was not related to cholera. This was confirmed during a conference held by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, attended by several ministers at a hospital in Aswan.

Dr.abdel Ghaffar stated that the primary cause of gastrointestinal illnesses in Aswan was a bacteria known as “E. coli,” which is a type of coliform bacteria. This strain of bacteria spreads due to the contamination of drinking water with sewage. It can sometimes lead to severe illness, particularly for individuals with weakened immune systems, resulting in severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting.

He announced that the death toll stood at five, and the total number of patients visiting hospitals reached 480, most of whom had mild cases. However, 168 cases required hospitalization due to delays in seeking treatment, while 36 cases were admitted to intensive care.

During these days, posts and videos emerged advising people to boil drinking water before use to avoid cholera and providing information on how to combat the outbreak and its transmission.

Dr. Islam Badr, a specialist in internal medicine at the Health Care Authority, stated that the rumors about the existence of cholera in Aswan stemmed from the similarity in symptoms between cholera and gastrointestinal infections, which include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

He added that cholera is a disease caused by a bacterial infection affecting the digestive system, while gastrointestinal illnesses can be caused by various factors, including viruses, fungi, and parasites, not solely bacteria.

Dr. Badr also noted that the Ministry of Health had formed a committee and collected samples for analysis at the ministry’s central laboratories, which confirmed that cholera was not the cause of the outbreak.

According to the doctor, cholera infections are more dangerous to human health compared to gastrointestinal illnesses, as cholera symptoms appear acutely and spread rapidly, leading to severe dehydration and potentially death if not treated promptly.

Another doctor working at Aswan’s Friendship Hospital, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that all cases treated were Egyptian and stated that social media had exaggerated the number of infections.

He further emphasized that allegations of the government concealing the actual number of patients were unfounded, noting that the hospital was operating at its regular capacity and had only taken the step of canceling scheduled surgeries to free up beds for affected patients.

Accusations Against Sudanese for Medication Shortages

The second incident we observed during our three-month investigation is the increasing blame directed at Sudanese refugees for the medication shortages currently affecting Egypt. In recent months, Egypt has faced a severe crisis regarding medication shortages, reaching critical levels for essential items like insulin for diabetes patients.

From interviews and surveys conducted with a number of citizens regarding the cause of this crisis, we found that 43% of respondents blame Sudanese refugees for the shortages. Many expressed the view that Sudanese individuals are purchasing medications and smuggling them back to Sudan for resale, taking advantage of the higher drug prices in Sudan compared to the lower prices in Egypt.

Others attributed the crisis to the significant increase in the Sudanese population, which has led to higher demand and subsequently reduced supply. We reached out to a source in one of the pharmaceutical companies affiliated with the Egyptian Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industries to get an expert opinion on the matter.

The official confirmed that the medication shortage is an ongoing issue in the Egyptian market that predates the influx of Sudanese refugees and has multiple causes, including price controls on medications that do not reflect the actual costs following the devaluation of the Egyptian pound against the dollar.

He explained that there have been illicit operations smuggling medications to neighboring countries for some time, a practice that has intensified in the current context of the war in Sudan.

We spoke with Mohamed Hamed, a journalist specializing in healthcare in Egypt, about these views. He confirmed that medication smuggling to Sudan and Libya has increased recently, according to investigations published by local and international media.

He noted that the Egyptian pharmaceutical market is vast, producing thousands of drug varieties. However, some companies have halted production due to import challenges or losses incurred from price controls. This situation has prompted companies to request price adjustments, which the Egyptian Drug Authority has begun to address by raising prices and facilitating imports, resulting in significant quantities of missing medications being supplied.

Hamed highlighted that Egypt exports large quantities of medications annually to Sudan, and many Egyptian companies have branches there. According to the latest statements from the Egyptian Minister of Health, pharmaceutical sales reached 300 billion Egyptian pounds ($6 billion), with $1 billion of that for export.

The head of the Sudanese community in Egypt confirmed that several rumors have spread rapidly in Egypt, negatively affecting Sudanese individuals. He pointed out that after the truth is established, most people remain unaware that these allegations are false, which exacerbates hostility toward Sudanese refugees.

He added that numerous damaging rumors have emerged, particularly concerning the gastrointestinal illness crisis and a video in which a girl accused Sudanese men of harassment. The government later proved the girl to be lying, which has heightened fears among Sudanese individuals.

“There is an organized campaign to incite conflict and hatred between Egypt and Sudan, primarily through rumors circulated on social media,” he said, emphasizing that the relationship between Egypt and Sudan is much deeper than these allegations.

He noted that Sudanese people have been in Egypt for a long time, forming a substantial community spanning several generations, and they are currently the most affected group. He urged the Egyptian government to allow children of the long-established Sudanese community to attend public schools, as was the case before the war.

He remarked that there has been an estimated 40% increase in the spread of rumors compared to the situation at the beginning of the war.

In discussions with several Sudanese individuals regarding these rumors, we observed a marked increase in their fear of deportation or changed treatment from Egyptians.

We spoke with several Sudanese individuals in Cairo’s Nasr City and in the Giza governorate, particularly in the Faisal area, which has a significant Sudanese population in Greater Cairo.

Orowa, a car mechanic, noted a change in the way local residents interact with him following the gastrointestinal illness crisis. He observed a palpable fear among people, concerned about potential cholera infections. He explained that he often faces blame from customers visiting his workshop due to rising prices, particularly in real estate, and finds himself in debates over who is responsible for these issues.

Mamdouh, a seller at a mobile accessories shop, expressed frustration, stating that many wholesalers charge higher prices for their products when selling to Sudanese customers. He also mentioned that some private clinic doctors have increased consultation fees, leading to feelings of discrimination and hostility.

He emphasized that while these practices are not universal among all businesses, the majority of Egyptians view Sudanese people as brothers. However, social media campaigns have contributed to a rise in incidents of violence and hatred against the Sudanese community.

Mamdouh pointed out that certain Sudanese individuals are exacerbating these tensions through negative actions, such as denying Egyptians access to their stores, which has led to increased racism.

After conducting these interviews, it became clear that there is a widespread proliferation of rumors and hate speech directed at Sudanese individuals on social media.

This charged discourse against Sudanese people often arises from fear fueled by rumors, particularly surrounding the gastrointestinal illness crisis, leading to concerns about contagion without verification from official sources.

In other instances, we found deliberate efforts to spread and exaggerate rumors for political gain or financial profit, as seen in videos accusing Sudanese individuals of harassment or medicine smuggling.