Over 10,000 african asylum seekers and refugees from Congo, Sudan, Eritrea other countries reside in israel after fleeing their homeland due to war, economic instabilities and personal persecution. Thousands of asylum seekers now live in Israel's central city of Tel Aviv, some in overcrowded makeshift shelters and some in rented apartments. Their children visit local schools and private kindergartens operated by the foreign workers and refugee community in Tel Aviv. In 2008 the state awarded work permits to several thousands of asylum seekers from Eritrea and Sudan, asylum seekers from Darfur were awarded refugee status, but several thousands more await a decision that will determine their future. will they be allowed to stay? The government recently offered a solution involving a neutral country in Africa that might take them in in return to a generous support plan devised by the state of Israel. Over 20 asylum seekers were killed at the border by Egyptian soldiers during 2008 in an effort to stop the infiltration. Several hundreds were more were wounded and detained. Yet the flow of asylum seekers continues in hope of a better future.

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