Sudanese American

Sudanese Americans

Total population
48,763 (2012 American Community Survey)[1]
Regions with significant populations
mainly in New York City, Detroit, Des Moines, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Diego, Omaha.
Languages
American English Arabic language
Religion
Muslims

Sudanese Americans are Americans of North Sudanese ancestry, or North Sudanese who have American citizenship. Sudanese Americans may also include children born in United States to an American (or of other origin) parent and Sudanese parent. Many Sudanese emigrated to United States in the 1990s as war refugees, escaping of civil war in Sudan. According the 2010 census, there is a community of 42,249 Sudanese Americans who—or whose ancestors—have emigrated from their native land to the U.S. in the 1980s and 1990s. These census figures, recorded prior to South Sudan's secession from Sudan in 2011, make no distinction between Sudanese Americans and South Sudanese Americans.

History

With the Civil War in Sudan, in 1983, many Sudanese and South Sudanese were settled in refugee camps in other neighboring African countries (Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda). Since 1990, Sudanese refugees in these camps have been accepted in the United States. So, most of the refugees from Sudan arrived the United States after 1991,^[2] although most them hailed from South Sudan (who arrived to this country, basically, from 2001, although also were established there some Sudanese refugee communities from North Sudan).^[3]

Demography

Now it is calculated that over 30,000 Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees of the civil war in Sudan living in United States, mainly in Omaha, Nebraska, where living over 9,000 Sudanese (both Sudanese and South Sudanese).^[4] Political dissidents in Northern Sudan emigrated fleeing of oppressive Muslim fundamentalist regime in Khartoum. Many of them migrated to refugee camps of neighboring countries, especially Ethiopia, to escape forced conscription or lesser extent, religious persecution, directed specifically against Bahaiism. Since this camps, many them are accepted in United States.^[3] Sudanese or South Sudanese came to America from the different parts of Sudan due also to political disagreements, educational and vocation opportunities or for family reunification.

The largest Sudanese communities (whether from North or South Sudan, as there are no websites or other sources that distinguish the two groups yet regarding to his demographics in United States except in the sources referred to Omaha) in the 2000 census were New York City, Detroit, Des Moines (in Iowa ^[5]), Alexandria (Virginia) in the Washington DC metropolitan area, Los Angeles and San Diego. Sudanese Americans communities also are found in others cities such as Greensboro, NC, Dallas, TX, Flint, MI, Washington Metropolitan Area and many other cities. So, the states of Virginia, Washington, Maryland, California, Idaho, Minnesota and North Carolina have the largerst Sudanese populations of United States.^[6]

However, and although these cities may have North or South Sudanese communities, we known that, al least since 1997, many Sudanese people (both North and South Sudanese) living in Omaha (Nebraska).^[7] So, in Omaha have been established communities people from Sudan's Central provinces from the Nuba Mountains and Darfur, in addition of other Sudanese immigrants that also were established there.^[4]

The most of North Sudanese Americans are Muslims. Sudanese Americans consider themselves Arab American.

Health Care

Most Sudanese established in the U.S., have numerous difficulties in accessing health care, although in varying degrees depending on factors such as educational level and having obtained the biomedical care in Sudan. In the linguistic and educational differences are added factors such as the discrepancy of name and date of birth, and a general lack of prior medical documentation, causing confusion in the income of the American health or arrival at hopitales.

No care or checkups in Sudan, immigrants from this country are found with medical conditions unknown to them. Many Sudanese have diabetes, hypertension, food allergies, severe cases of depression, loss of vision and hearing, parasitism and dental problems, although its feeding change in US.

In addition, they often leave their medication when symptoms resolve, not completing therapy.^[3]

Organizations

Sudanese Americans (whether from North or South Sudan) created several associations. So, because of the great difficulties faced by Sudanese in United States, such as language and skill, was founded the New Sudan-American Hope (NSAH) in 1999 by a group of Sudanese from Rochester, Minnesota, to help Sudanese refugees. So, help with various aspects of relocation. Almost a decade later and with members from diverse backgrounds, NSAH still helps refugees in Rochester and also is a source of education about the consequences of the war in Sudan.^[8]

Famous Sudanese Americans

• Nawal M. Nour
• Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im
• Mohammed Adam El-Sheikh

See also

• Sudanese Australian
• Sudanese British

References

External links

• Largest Sudanese communities

v t e Sudanese diaspora Australia Canada Denmark Iraq Italy France New Zealand Norway Sweden United Kingdom United States