The Director General of Crossings and border ports, Lieutenant General Yasser Mohamed Othman, tells the details of what happened to the stuck at the Arqain Crossing, and reveals the daily number of returnees from Egypt

Dialogue- Muhammad Jamal Kandoul- a thick controversy that was theater of social media platforms during the past days, which conveyed a picture of the “buses” of returning from Egypt at the Arqin crossing.

The pictures circulated, brought great criticism of the administration of the “Arqin and Ashkit” crossings, with complaints that there are no services, which made us question the Director General of crossings and border ports, Lieutenant General Yasser Mohamed Othman, who (dignity) provided strong testimonies, and he denounced the circulating accounts.

Shocking pictures, which were transferred through social media platforms, as a result of the accumulation of “buses” in the crossings, what is your comment?

The crossings work well and excellent. Yes, a defect occurred on the first day, he established a negative mental image, due to the transfer of the pending number of 2500 people at the “Arqin” crossing. As for the lack of coordination, a crowd occurred, knowing that providing procedures for this number takes a great time.

The stuck?

Yes, and they were the ones who entered through smuggling, where they were collected in “Qastal”, and they were deported in the neutral area, and the number was very large, and specifically the “Arqin” crossing, because it is in a desert place, and there were no “buses” that exist due to the lack of coordination, which necessitated the conduct of contacts until the stranded was promoted.

There are criticisms that say that there are no services, as well as slow procedures from the Sudanese side?

There is no slow, but we are talking about a large number of reaching one time, which drew this negative image.

How is the situation now?

“What is in any Zul there until yesterday,” where we avoid the crowds and the defect that occurred on the first day. Now the situation is very reassuring, and any group has been completed in a good manner, and we provided them with meals through international organizations, and “Techia” in the “Ashkit and two” crossings, and we meet their needs until their procedures end. I am now in Dongola, and today in the morning in “Arqin”.

During the past three days, specifically since the Eid holiday ends, how many returnees?

More than 6 thousand returned from Egypt during the past three days, and 21,844 people are total returnees during the month of March.

Is there a plan to confront voluntary return, with expectations to increase the number of returnees during the coming period?

We asked the relevant authorities, specifically from the “Cabinet”, to form a higher committee for the voluntary return, in the “Arqin and Ashkat” crossings, in order to ensure that there is no coordination. I reassure you .. On the second and third day, you did not witness any congestion, only the defect occurred on the first day due to the return of the stranded.

What about the fire that broke out two days ago, and some said that it caused the delay of citizens?

This is an incorrect hadith. The fire was in the southern direction of the crossing, which is a container of the Customs Operations Chamber, and it has no relationship with the passenger hall and did not affect.

The criticism was dense, and accused you of default because there were no “firefighting vehicles” from the Egyptian side?

The firefighting vehicles came from Wadi Halfa and extinguished. Then another came from the Egyptian side, and this is normal.

The President Al -Bahhan visited the “Arqin and I complain” crossings in the seals of the year 2023, what happened in the directives he presented to manage the crossings?

At the “Arqin” crossing, an Egyptian company and the industry system were contracted. There is a complete project to rehabilitate the “Arqin” crossing, only the signing of the agreements with the Ministry of Finance will remain, and it will be very honorable specifications.

Are there clear plans and budgets allocated to qualify all crossings?

The “Ashkit” crossing is a clear plan for rehabilitation, especially as it needs a simple rehabilitation and not as a “Arqin” crossing, and it will start working on the “Arqin” electricity project, and it is completed in June, as well as electricity and water “Ashkit” and the water project.

How can the crossings be used economically to supply the state’s sad?

The crossings played a major role in supplying the state’s economy, especially the “Arqin and I complained” crossings. There are plans for rehabilitation that will increase the returns during the coming period.