The Canadian government said on Monday it intends to put new immigration procedures in place to support Sudanese temporary residents currently in Canada, according to Reuters.

Clashes between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces on April 15 killed hundreds, halted work in hospitals, disrupted other services and turned residential areas into battlefields.

Sudanese citizens will be able to apply to extend their residency in Canada once new measures announced by Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser take effect, the Canadian government said in a statement on Monday. , or visiting their families in the country at no cost.

The government added that it is prioritizing the review of already completed permanent and temporary residency applications in the immigration system for those still in Sudan.

This includes visit visa applications for immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, he added.

Canada has announced a waiver of passport and permanent resident travel document fees for Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Sudan and those wishing to leave Sudan.

The United States confirmed on Monday that both sides in Sudan’s conflict had agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire as Western, Arab and Asian nations raced to evacuate their nationals.

On Sunday, Canada indicated that it had temporarily suspended the work of its embassy in Sudan and that Canadian diplomats would temporarily work from a safe location outside the country.