A delegation of South Sudan
senior officials is slated to arrive in Israel
in the coming days in the backdrop of the deportation
of citizens of the African country from Israel. The Foreign Ministry confirmed that the officials will coordinate the departure of 1,500 of South Sudan's citizens currently staying in Israel.
"We pray they can help us," said an asylum seeker from South Sudan who is in contact with the delegation members. "It's our last chance to change the terrible reality in which we live.
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"The message we have conveyed to the delegation is 'we're ready to get out of here, help us – the kids and families being arrested on the streets and sent to jail.'"
Inspectors check Africans' papers (Photo: EPA)
He estimated that South Sudan will ask Israel for more time to ensure a dignified departure.
South Sudan however is not pleased with the situation. An Israeli who visited the country in the past year and is in contact with South Sudanese state officials said that they are outraged over the recent wave of arrests.
Inspectors take away migrant in Tel Aviv (Photo: EPA)
"They are very disappointed with the treatment of refugees here," he said. "They see the images on TV and are getting calls for help from their citizens in Israel. They consider us a true ally and do no understand how a country which they consider a role model can arrest their citizens on the streets.
Arrests in Eilat (Photo: AFP)
"Refugees in South Sudan itself say they are getting better treatment that what their counterparts in Israel are."
More than 300 illegal aliens signed voluntary departure forms
on Monday, the second day of the Population and Immigration Authority's extensive campaign to deport illegal aliens.
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