Tunisia-Sudanese Asylum seekers demand Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Sudanese national at Rabta hospital

Sudanese asylum seekers in asked that the Tunisian government open an Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of the 32-year-old asylum seeker, Ayoub Hashem, who passed away on Tuesday at the Rabat Hospital in the capital, The TAP  reported.

One of the Sudanese asylum seekers, Hamid Othman, affirmed that the health condition of the deceased suddenly deteriorated about a month ago, he thought that he was contaminated with the new Coronavirus.

He tested negative for the virus, Hachem was transported to Rabta hospital after he became unable to walk. Medical staff said he suffered from a respiratory illness. The speaker said that visitation was forbidden for a month until Ayoun passed away despite his friends’ attempts to know the reason behind banning visitation.

He added that the Sudanese ambassador to Tunisia was notified instantly upon receiving the news of the death to try to intervene to know the fact of what occurred and to coordinate with the Sudanese authorities to take the crucial decision regarding the deportation of his body to his hometown or his burial in Tunisia.

Othman revealed his discontent on how the Tunisian authorities dealt with the refugees, which he characterised as “inhuman” particularly during the continued spread of the Coronavirus, where 17 refugees from Sudan, Somalia and Algeria were housed in one of the National Union of Tunisian Women ‘s accommodations for three months without giving them with health care. Or even their daily eating needs, which compelled them to resort to seeking help from some civil society organizations according to his account.