Sudan – live: UK evacuation flights to end on Sunday, minister confirms

The UK will end evacuation flights from an airfield in Sudan by 6pm on Saturday, the government has announced.

Deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden said operations would cease following a “significant decline” in the number of British nationals seeking to flee the war-torn country.

Downing Street has so far rejected calls to widen the eligibility for evacuation beyond British passport holders and their immediate family.

Sudan has been rocked by “heavy explosions” and “constant gunfire” despite both parties in the war agreeing to a ceasefire extension, residents say.

Residents reported fierce clashes in Khartoum’s upscale neighborhood of Kafouri, where the military earlier had used warplanes to bomb its rivals, the Rapid Support Forces, in the area, just hours after the truce was supposed to come into force.

Earlier, a Turkish evacuation plane was shot at by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Sudan’s army has said.

Turkey’s defence ministry confirmed that an evacuation plane had been fired at and said there were no injuries. The RSF denied firing at the plane and said the army was “spreading lies”.

Key Points

• UK to stop evacuation flights from Sudan on Saturday

• Fighting flares as military approves ceasefire extension

• Paramilitary forces yet to respond to ceasefire proposal

• Blinken and African Union Commission chairperson discuss ending Sudan fighting

• Six UK flights evacuate 536 people from Sudan

• Sudan evacuations for Britons can continue ‘even if ceasefire breaks’

ICYMI | UK citizen tells of family stranded in Sudan with ‘nowhere to go’

16:01 , Emily Atkinson

Relatives of those still left in Sudan have told Martha McHardy of their fear as evacuations continue.

Almost 900 British nationals have been evacuated from near the capital Khartoum since the 72-hour ceasefire began.

The ceasefire was due to end at midnight on Friday, but the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces joined the Sudanese military in agreeing to extend the truce.

Mohamed Max, who lives in Glasgow, told The Independent his sister, a UK citizen, and his mother, a non-UK citizen, have been in the airport since Thursday morning trying to get out of Sudan.

The Glasgow resident expressed concern for his mother, 60, who has diabetes and has not been able to leave because she is not a British citizen. Mr Max, his father and his sister are all British citizens.

“They went to the airport yesterday, and then they were told that my mum won’t be able to come with my sister because she is not British. They have nowhere to go,” Mr Max said.

He said his sister, 23, will not leave their mother on her own in Sudan.

Mr Max has been in constant communication with his relatives. He said when he spoke to them “they just cried.”

“My sister can’t leave my mother on her own because my mother has no one and nowhere to go. She would never do that.

“There are bombs everywhere and when they were making their way to the airport, they saw bodies in the street.”

Death toll rises as fighting continues in Khartoum despite ceasefire

15:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Gunfire and heavy artillery fire have persisted in parts of Sudan‘s capital Khartoum, residents said.

The gunfire rang out despite the extension of a ceasefire between the country’s two top generals whose battle for power has killed hundreds and sent thousands fleeing for their lives.

The civilian death toll jumped on Saturday to 411 people, according to the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate, which monitors casualties. The fighting has wounded another 2,023 civilians so far, the group added.

In the city of Genena, the provincial capital of war-ravaged West Darfur, intensified violence has killed 89 people. Fighters have moved into homes and taken over stores and hospitals as they battle in the streets, the syndicate said.

Khartoum, a city of some five million people, has been transformed into a front line in the grinding conflict.

Meanwhile, the deadline for British nationals to reach the evacuation airfield in Sudan has passed as the Government prepares to cease flights out of the war-torn region within hours.

Watch live: Smoke rises over Sudan’s capital as ‘airstrikes’ continue amid ceasefire

14:53 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Thick smoke has been spotted rising over Khartoum, Sudan as fighting enters a third week and ceasefires come to an end this weekend.

Air strikes, anti-aircraft weaponry and artillery could be heard in the capital on Saturday (April 29), with the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continuing to battle for power, after conflict erupted in mid-April.

Despite the ‘ceasefire’ the RSF has already accused the army of violating the rules, and fighting has continued.

At least 512 people have been killed and close to 4,200 wounded, according to the United Nations - but the toll is likely to be far higher.

The final flight out of the country to the UK is expected to leave at 18:00 BST.

Watch live: Smoke rises over Sudan’s capital as ‘airstrikes’ continue amid ceasefire

Clashes continue despite ceasefire extension

14:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

On Saturday — despite a ceasefire extended under heavy international pressure by another 72 hours early Friday — clashes continued around the presidential palace, headquarters of the state broadcaster and a military base in Khartoum, residents said. The battles sent thick columns of black smoke billowing over the city skyline.

In a few areas near the capital, including in Omdurman, residents reported that some shops were reopening as the scale of fighting dwindled, with both sides seeking to observe a tenuous cease-fire. But in other areas, residents sheltering at home as explosions thundered around them said fighters were going from house, terrifying people and stealing whatever they could find.

Now in its third week, the fighting has left swaths of Khartoum without electricity and running water. Those sheltering at home say they’re running out of food and basic supplies. Residents on Saturday in the city of Omdurman, west of Khartoum, said they’d been waiting three days to get fuel — complicating their escape plans.

The U.N. relief coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said that U.N. offices in Khartoum, as well as the cities of Genena and Nyala in Darfur had all been attacked and looted. “This is unacceptable — and prohibited under international law,” he said.

Over the past 15 days of pummeling each other, the generals have each failed to deal a decisive blow to the other in their struggle for control of Africa’s third largest nation. The military has appeared to have the upper hand in the fighting, with its monopoly on air power, but it has been impossible to confirm its claims of advances.

“Soon, the Sudanese state with its well-grounded institutions will rise as victorious, and attempts to hijack our country will be aborted forever,” the Sudanese military said on social media Saturday.

Many hospitals in Khartoum and across the country have closed.

Few had hope that the conflict would end anytime soon.

“Both parties are digging in,” said el-Madani, the former journalist. “This war could go on for a long time.”

As battle for Sudan continues, civilian deaths top 400

13:33 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Gunfire and heavy artillery fire persisted Saturday in parts of Sudan‘s capital Khartoum, residents said, despite the extension of a cease-fire between the country’s two top generals, whose battle for power has killed hundreds and sent thousands fleeing for their lives.

The civilian death toll jumped Saturday to 411 people, according to the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate, which monitors casualties.

The fighting has wounded another 2,023 civilians so far, the group added. In the city of Genena, the provincial capital of war-ravaged West Darfur, intensified violence has killed 89 people.

Fighters have moved into homes and taken over stores and hospitals as they battle in the streets, the syndicate said.

Khartoum, a city of some 5 million people, has been transformed into a front line in the grinding conflict between Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, the commander of Sudan‘s military, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces, which has dashed once-euphoric hopes of Sudan‘s democratic transition.

Foreign countries continued to evacuate diplomatic staff and nationals while thousands of Sudanese fled across borders into Chad and Egypt.

Up to 20,000 refugees — mostly women and children — have crossed over the western border to Chad, the United Nations said, a country that has struggled for stability in the aftermath of its own coup two years ago.

Those who escape the fighting in Khartoum face more obstacles on their way to safety.

The overland journey to Port Sudan, where ships then evacuate people via the Red Sea, has proven long and risky.

Hatim el-Madani, a former journalist, said that paramilitary fighters were stopping refugees at roadblocks out of the capital, demanding they hand over their phones and valuables.

“There’s an outlaw, bandit-like nature to the RSF militia,” he said, referring to the Rapid Support Forces. “It indicates they don’t have a supply line in place and that could get worse in the coming days.”

Airlifts from the country have also posed challenges, with a Turkish evacuation plane hit by gunfire outside Khartoum on Friday.

A race to the border after childbirth as fighting forces Sudanese to flee

12:59 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

As armed militias attacked and pillaged her village near the town of El Geneina in the western Darfur region of Sudan, pregnant 23-year-old Zamzam Adam was stranded, in labour, and alone, as neighbours fled across the border into Chad.

The conflict between Sudan‘s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has not spared her village Ayatine, in western Darfur region where a two-decade-old conflict and simmering violence has been re-ignited by the fighting.

Residents and sources in the western Darfur region have reported looting, ethnic reprisal attacks and clashes between the army and the RSF which evolved from the janjaweed militias.

At least 96 people have been killed in Darfur since Monday in inter-communal violence rekindled by the conflict, according to the U.N. human rights office.

“In our village, armed people came and burned and looted houses and we were forced to flee,” said Adam.

As neighbours hurriedly packed up to leave amid detonations and gunfire, Adam found herself alone. Her husband had left for the east of the country in search of work and had not been heard from for a while.

Her sister and mother heard from a neighbour that she was about to give birth. They rushed to her rescue.

“When we arrived, she had already given birth and the people had left her alone. I cut the child’s umbilical cord and we cleaned her up,” Adam’s sister Souraya Adam, 27, told Reuters.

The women bundled the infant and immediately set out for the over 30 km (18 miles) trek across arid scrubland into Chad, where they joined around 20,000 other Sudanese refugees who have fled western Darfur for Chad since the fighting began.

“We let her rest for a while, and then we continued on to here,” Souraya Adam said, speaking at the Koufroun refugee camp in Chad.

Sitting on a mat under a tree, Zamzam Adam cradled and fed her 13-days-old infant who had cried for five days, her sister said.

“Now he is much better, he does not cry like before. I know that the child is sick, and his mother too,” Souraya Adam said, adding that her sister had developed rashes.

Around them, large crowds of women and children milled around the camp near the Sudanese border, while others rested in makeshift shelters of sticks and rushes tacked with pieces of cloth.

The wave of arrivals places an additional burden on Chad’s meagre resources, which were already strained by hosting 400,000 refugees who fled earlier conflict in Sudan.

UN envoy sees Sudan combatants more open to talks

12:08 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Warring sides in Sudan are more open to negotiations and have accepted the conflict that erupted two weeks ago cannot continue, a U.N. official told Reuters on Saturday, a possible flicker of hope even as fighting continued.

Volker Perthes, U.N. special representative in Sudan, said the sides had nominated representatives for talks which had been suggested for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, or Juba in South Sudan, though he said there was a practical question over whether they could get there to “actually sit together”.

He said no timeline had been set for talks.

The prospects of negotiations between the leaders of the two sides have so far seemed bleak. On Friday, army leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said in an interview he would never sit down with the RSF’s “rebel” leader, referring to General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who said he would only talk after the army ceased hostilities.

Hundreds of people have been killed since April 15 when a long-simmering power struggle between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) boiled over into conflict.

Perthes noted that he had told the Security Council both sides thought they could win the conflict, most recently in a briefing a couple of days ago, but he also said attitudes were changing.

“They both think they will win, but they are both sort of more open to negotiations, the word ‘negotiations’ or ‘talks’ was not there in their discourse in the first week or so,” he said.

While the sides had made statements that the other side had to “surrender or die,” Perthes said, they were also saying, “ok we accept ... some form of talks”.

“They have both accepted that this war cannot continue,” he added.

Deadline passes for British nationals to reach evacuation airfield

11:39 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The deadline for British nationals to reach the evacuation airfield in Sudan has passed as the Government prepares to cease flights out of the war-torn region within hours.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden will chair a Cobra meeting on Saturday afternoon to discuss the security situation in Khartoum in advance of the final flight taking off at 6pm UK time.

Some 1,573 people on 13 flights have been evacuated from the Wadi Saeedna site near the capital but thousands more British citizens may remain.

The BBC reported that all NHS doctors are now eligible to catch flights out of the country following a U-turn by the Government, which initially said evacuation was only open to UK passport holders and their immediate families.

It comes amid criticism of the pace of the British evacuation, which was given more time after a three-day extension to the ceasefire between warring generals was agreed on Thursday.

Mr Dowden denied the Government will effectively “abandon” those who have been unable to make the potentially dangerous journey to the airfield with its decision to cease flights.

The Government was also facing renewed pressure to broaden the eligibility criteria for evacuation after it cited a decline in the number of UK passport holders coming forward as its reason for ending its rescue operation.

Concerns have been raised that the current approach could see families split up or some members left behind, with Labour calling on ministers to use the longer window to rescue others.

Following the decision to end evacuation flights on Saturday, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy urged the Government not to “turn away” British residents without passports, including NHS doctors reportedly trapped in the conflict zone.

Mr Dowden told the BBC: “We are in touch with and engaging rapidly with the Sudanese Doctors’ Association to see what further support we can provide for them.”

In pictures: Thousands of evacuees aboard ferry to Jeddah

11:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A ferry transports some 1900 evacuees across the Red Sea from Port Sudan to the Saudi King Faisal navy base in Jeddah.

Sudan: Emotional moment journalist finds finds uncle among evacuees

10:37 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

This is the moment a Sky News journalist found her uncle among evacuees who had travelled to Jeddah from Sudan.

Footage shows Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir embracing Mohsin, who is a Sudanese-American surgeon, at King Faisal Naval Base after he boarded a ship in Port Sudan to flee the conflict.

It comes as armed fighters tore through the Darfur city of Genena despite a fragile three-day truce between the country’s two top generals.

Sudan: Emotional moment journalist finds finds uncle among evacuees

Watch live: Sudan evacuees arrive in the UAE after fleeing conflict

10:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

More evacuees from Sudan are expected to arrive in the United Arab Emirates today (29 April), after fleeing the conflict before the country’s ceasefire ends.

According to Al Arabiya, at least 670 people arrived in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah on Friday, thought to be of at least 12 different nationalities.

Today’s arrivals are coming in by ship.

The Sudanese army and the parliamentary Rapid Support Forces have been at conflict since mid-April, and allowed a 72-hour ceasefire period for people to leave.

Watch live: Sudan evacuees arrive in the UAE after fleeing conflict

NHS doctors told they can leave on last evacuation flights in government U-turn

09:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

NHS doctors have now been told they can leave Sudan on the last evacuation flights from the country, in a U-turn move by the government.

Previously, over 20 NHS medics were refused evacuation rights by the government as they are not British nationals, but have a UK work permit.

The change in decision comes just hours before the UK’s final flights rescuing Britons out of the war-torn country.

People hoping to leave have until 12pm local time to make their own way to the Wadi Saeedna site.

British nationals have until 12pm local time to reach airfield

08:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

British nationals seeking to flee Sudan have until midday to reach the evacuation airfield after the Government announced that flights out of the war-torn country will cease on Saturday.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is urging those left in Sudan to travel to the Wadi Saeedna site before 12pm local time in order to be processed for the last journey.

Some 1,573 people on 13 flights have been evacuated from the airfield near the capital of Khartoum but thousands more British citizens may remain.

It comes amid criticism of the pace of the British evacuation, which was bought more time after a three-day extension to the ceasefire between warring generals was agreed on Thursday.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden denied the Government will effectively “abandon” those who have been unable to make the potentially dangerous journey to the airfield with its decision to cease flights.

The Government is also facing renewed pressure to broaden the eligibility criteria for evacuation after it cited a decline in the number of UK passport holders coming forward as its reason for ending its rescue operation.

Downing Street has so far rejected calls to widen the criteria beyond British citizens and their immediate family.

Concerns have been raised that the current approach could see families split up or some members left behind, with Labour calling on ministers to use the longer window to rescue others.

Following the decision to end evacuation flights on Saturday, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy urged the Government not to “turn away” British residents without passports, including NHS doctors reportedly trapped in the conflict zone.

Wounded British doctor finally escapes Sudan war zone with mother - but countless NHS doctors left behind

07:49 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

In case you missed it....

A wounded British doctor and his elderly mother have finally managed to escape Sudan on a British evacuation flight – but countless NHS doctors have been left behind.

The doctor, who recently retired after working in the NHS for more than 30 years, dodged sepsis following an operation at an airfield in Khartoum, while his 87-year-old mother was eventually granted a temporary UK visa after waiting almost 16 hours for a decision at the airbase.

His daughter – a British doctor based in London, who is calling herself Dr A in order to protect her family in Sudan – told The Independent of her utter “relief” as the pair with her sister arrived safely in Cyprus this morning after “four days of a nightmare”.

Wounded British doctor finally escapes Sudan war zone with mother but countless left

Watch: Emotional moment journalist finds uncle among evacuees

07:00 , Emily Atkinson

Labour renews calls to make UK residents eligible for evacuation out of Sudan

05:00 , Emily Atkinson

Labour has renewed calls for the government to make British residents eligible for evacuation out of Sudan after ministers announced the operation would end on Saturday due to reduced demand among UK citizens.

David Lammy, shadow foreign secretary, said: “Labour pays credit to the brave armed services and FCDO staff who are still working around the clock to evacuate British citizens.

“But if there is reduced demand while the ceasefire is ongoing, the government should widen the criteria to include British residents who are also trying to flee Sudan.

“It cannot be right for the government to clap for NHS doctors one day and then turn them away from evacuation flights out of a conflict zone the next.”

ICYMI | Let all British residents join Sudan evacuation, Labour urges government

03:00 , Emily Atkinson

All British residents should qualify for evacuation from Sudan, Labour has said – amid concerns people could be left behind if the country again descends into fighting.

The government has rejected calls to widen the eligibility for evacuation beyond British passport holders and their immediate family – and is facing both domestic and international criticism over its response.

Warring parties in the north east African country on Thursday night agreed a further three day extension to the ongoing ceasefire, buying more time for people trying to leave the country.

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more:

Let all British residents join Sudan evacuation, Labour urges government

‘I saved British lives during Covid, now you are leaving an NHS doctor to die’ says medic blocked from Sudan flight

01:00 , Emily Atkinson

An NHS doctor who saved British lives during Covid has been “left to die” after British forces turned her away from evacuation points in Sudan.

The UK government is only allowing British passport holders and their families on to evacuation plans in Sudan, leaving at least eight NHS doctors in limbo over their safety, The Independent understands.

The government has now said anyone who is not a passport holder must find other routes to the UK, such as crossing the Egypt-Sudan border, where a humanitarian crisis is brewing.

Rebecca Thomas and Tara Cobham report:

‘You are leaving an NHS doctor to die’ says medic trapped in Sudan

Darfur death toll rises to 96 - UN

Friday 28 April 2023 23:00 , Emily Atkinson

At least 96 people have died in the Sudanese region of Darfur since Monday in inter-communal violence rekindled by the army-RSF conflict, UN human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said.

Releases and escapes from at least eight jails, including five in Khartoum and two in Darfur, were compounding chaos, she added.

In El Geneina, capital of West Darfur, a major hospital supported by medical charity MSF was looted during a violent intrusion over the past two days, the group said.

“Many people are trapped in the midst of this deadly violence. They fear risking their safety and lives trying to reach the rare health facilities that are still functional and open,” said Sylvain Perron, MSF’s deputy operations manager for Sudan.

UK citizen tells of family stranded in Sudan with ‘nowhere to go'

Friday 28 April 2023 22:00 , Emily Atkinson

Relatives of those still left in Sudan have told Martha McHardy of their fear as evacuations continue.

Almost 900 British nationals have been evacuated from near the capital Khartoum since the 72-hour ceasefire began.

The ceasefire was due to end at midnight on Friday, but the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces joined the Sudanese military in agreeing to extend the truce.Mohamed Max, who lives in Glasgow, told The Independent his sister, a UK citizen, and his mother, a non-UK citizen, have been in the airport since Thursday morning trying to get out of Sudan.

The Glasgow resident expressed concern for his mother, 60, who has diabetes and has not been able to leave because she is not a British citizen. Mr Max, his father and his sister are all British citizens.

“They went to the airport yesterday, and then they were told that my mum won’t be able to come with my sister because she is not British. They have nowhere to go,” Mr Max said.

He said his sister, 23, will not leave their mother on her own in Sudan.

Mr Max has been in constant communication with his relatives. He said when he spoke to them “they just cried.”

“My sister can’t leave my mother on her own because my mother has no one and nowhere to go. She would never do that.

“There are bombs everywhere and when they were making their way to the airport, they saw bodies in the street.”

'Several hundred Americans have departed Sudan by land, sea or air’

Friday 28 April 2023 21:00 , Emily Atkinson

Several hundred US citizens have already departed Sudan by either land, sea or air, state department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters, as fighting between the army and a rival paramilitary force rocks the country.

Fewer than 5,000 people have requested additional information from the state department, and only a fraction of those are Americans who have actively sought Washington’s assistance to leave the country.

Foreign Office shares details of last flight for British nationals

Friday 28 April 2023 20:00 , Emily Atkinson

The last flight for British nationals out of Sudan will be at midday on Saturday, according to the government website.

Updated guidance on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) website has urged those wishing to leave Sudan to travel to the Wadi Saeedna airfield by 12pm local time to be processed.

UK to stop evacuation flights from Sudan on Saturday

Friday 28 April 2023 19:00 , Emily Atkinson

The UK will end evacuation flights from an airfield in Sudan by 6pm on Saturday, the Government has announced.

Deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden said operations would cease following a “significant decline” in the number of British nationals seeking to flee the war-torn country.

Downing Street has so far rejected calls to widen the eligibility for evacuation beyond British passport holders and their immediate family.

More on this story here:

UK to stop evacuation flights from Sudan on Saturday

In pictures: Smoke billows from Khartoum as foreign nationals scramble to evacuate

Friday 28 April 2023 18:00 , Emily Atkinson

Over 200 people evacuated from Sudan to Chad - UN agency

Friday 28 April 2023 17:00 , Emily Atkinson

Chad conducted its first evacuation flights from Sudan carrying more than 200 people, including dozens of children, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday.

Countries around the globe have rushed to extract foreign diplomats and citizens from the country after a conflict erupted between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, killing hundreds of people and turning residential areas into war zones.

The UN agency, which is assisting Chadian authorities with the arrivals, said in a statement that 226 people were on board two charter flights, including 39 children. The flights arrived in the capital N’Djamena late on Thursday.

Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the agency said that hundreds of students and pilgrims were seeking evacuation, as well as 15 Chadians requiring assistance from Sudanese hospitals.

Wounded British doctor finally escapes Sudan war zone with mother - but countless NHS doctors left behind

Friday 28 April 2023 16:30 , Matt Mathers

A wounded British doctor and his elderly mother have finally managed to escape Sudan on a British evacuation flight - but countless NHS doctors have been left behind.

The doctor, who recently retired after working in the NHS for more than 30 years, dodged sepsis following an operation at an airfield in Khartoum, while his 87-year-old mother was eventually granted a temporary UK visa after waiting almost 16 hours for a decision at the airbase.

Rebecca Thomas and Tara Cobham report:

Wounded British doctor finally escapes Sudan war zone with mother but countless left

‘We’re in a constant state of fear'

Friday 28 April 2023 15:30 , Matt Mathers

Strikes by air, tanks and artillery shook Sudan’s capital Khartoum and the adjacent city of Bahri on Friday, witnesses said, even though the army and a rival paramilitary force agreed to extend a truce by 72 hours.

Hundreds have been killed and tens of thousands have fled for their lives in a power struggle between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that erupted on April 15 and disabled an internationally backed transition toward democratic elections.

In persistent breaches of the ceasefire, heavy gunfire and detonations rattled residential neighbourhoods of the capital region where fighting has been concentrated over the past week.

Thick smoke was rising above two areas of Bahri.

"The situation this morning is very scary. We hear the sounds of planes and explosions. We don’t know when this hell will end," said Bahri resident Mahasin al-Awad, 65.

"We’re in a constant state of fear for ourselves and our children."

Use extended ceasefire to evacuate all Britons, Labour urges government

Friday 28 April 2023 14:30 , Matt Mathers

Labour has today called for the Foreign Office to use the three-day extension of the ceasefire in Sudan to allow all British residents who want to leave to qualify for evacuation, alongside British nationals and their close, dependent family members, while the airlift is ongoing and there is capacity.

It comes following reports that at least 24 NHS doctors are being turned away from evacuation flights that are only accepting British passport holders - while British nationals with close, dependent Sudanese family members who are being refused evacuation, remain stuck.

David Lammy MP, Labour’s shadow secretary of state for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, said: “It cannot be right that NHS doctors and other British residents who worked to protect us throughout the pandemic are being denied the chance to evacuate from the conflict gripping Sudan. At the same time, British nationals remain stuck as the government refuses to evacuate their dependent, immediate family members.

“We do not underestimate the scale of the challenge faced by Britain’s brave armed forces and FCDO officials who are working around the clock, but the three-day extension to the ceasefire offers an opportunity to get more people to safety while the airlift is ongoing and there is capacity.

“All British nationals, close, dependent relatives of British nationals who are stuck and British residents seeking to flee Sudan should qualify to board evacuation flights. The government must act before the ceasefire ends and it is too late.”

Thick smoke rises above Bahri

Friday 28 April 2023 13:55 , Matt Mathers

"The situation this morning is very scary. We hear the sounds of planes and explosions. We don’t know when this hell will end," said Bahri resident Mahasin al-Awad, 65.

"We’re in a constant state of fear for ourselves and our children."

Sudan’s army has been directing air strikes with jets or drones on RSF forces spread out in neighbourhoods across the capital where many residents are pinned down by urban warfare with little access to food, fuel, water and electricity.

Watch: Emotional moment journalist finds finds uncle among evacuees

Friday 28 April 2023 13:00 , Matt Mathers

This is the moment a Sky News journalist found her uncle among evacuees who had travelled to Jeddah from Sudan.

Footage shows Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir embracing Mohsin, who is a Sudanese-American surgeon, at King Faisal Naval Base after he boarded a ship in Port Sudan to flee the conflict.

It comes as armed fighters tore through the Darfur city of Genena despite a fragile three-day truce between the country’s two top generals.

Holly Patrick reports:

Sudan: Emotional moment journalist finds finds uncle among evacuees

ICYMI: Scramble to evacuate Britons from Sudan as ceasefire extended

Friday 28 April 2023 12:40 , Matt Mathers

Sudan’s warring factions have agreed to a three-day ceasefire extension, as the government scrambled to evacuate more stranded British citizens from the war zone.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese military both accepted the deal on Thursday hours before it was due to end.

The existing truce, which was to expire at midnight, has not stopped the fighting between the two sides but created enough of a lull for tens of thousands of Sudanese to flee to safer areas and for foreign nations to evacuate hundreds of their citizens by land and sea.

Jon Stone and Adam Forrest report:

Scramble to evacuate Britons from Sudan as ceasefire extended

ICYMI: Britons in Sudan urged to head to airfield ‘quickly’ after ceasefire extended

Friday 28 April 2023 12:00 , Matt Mathers

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has urged all UK nationals wishing to flee Sudan to come forward “as quickly as possible” despite a three-day extension to the ceasefire being agreed.

The British evacuation mission was potentially bought more time when the rival generals made the deal as the midnight deadline for the resumption of fierce fighting loomed.

Sam Blewett reports:

Britons in Sudan urged to head to airfield ‘quickly’ after ceasefire extended

Explainer: What is happening in Sudan?

Friday 28 April 2023 11:30 , Matt Mathers

As reports of fighting continue to come in despite a ceasefire extension in Sudan, Joe Sommerlad takes a more in-depth look at what has caused the conflict:

What is happening in Sudan? The crisis explained

‘Light weapons’ fired at plane - Turkey

Friday 28 April 2023 10:56 , Matt Mathers

Turkey’s Ministry of Defence has issued a statement after one of its evacuation planes was shot at.

It says: “Light weapons were fired on our C-130 evacuation plane, which was going to Wadi Sayidna for the mission of evacuating our citizens who were stuck in Sudan, where the clashes continued.

“Our plane landed safely. Although there are no injuries in our personnel, necessary controls are also carried out on our aircraft.”

Fighting continues in Khartoum despite ceasefire - residents

Friday 28 April 2023 10:30 , Matt Mathers

Heavy explosions and gunfire rocked Sudan’s capital, Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman early Friday, residents said, despite the extension of a fragile truce between the county’s two top generals whose power struggle has killed hundreds.

Residents reported fierce clashes in Khartoum’s upscale neighborhood of Kafouri, where the military earlier had used warplanes to bomb its rivals, the Rapid Support Forces, in the area.

Clashes were also reported around the military’s headquarters, the Republican Palace and the area close to the Khartoum international airport. All these areas are flashpoints since the war between the military and the RSF erupted on April 15.

"Heavy explosions and constant gunfire are heard across Kafouri streets," said Abdalla, a Kafouri resident who asked to be identified only by his first name for his safety.

RSF denies shooting at plane

Friday 28 April 2023 09:58 , Matt Mathers

The RSF denied firing at the plane and said the army was “spreading lies”.

“Our forces have remained strictly committed to the humanitarian truce that we agreed upon since midnight, and it is not true that we targeted any aircraft in the sky of Wadi Seyidna in Omdurman,” the RSF said in a statement.

The Sudanese army said the plane was being repaired.

Paramilitary force shoots at Turkish evacuation plane - Sudan army

Friday 28 April 2023 09:17 , Matt Mathers

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shot at a Turkish evacuation plane as it was landing at Wadi Seyidna airport outside Khartoum on Friday, damaging its fuel system, Sudan’s army said.

Hundreds have died and tens of thousands of people have fled in two weeks of conflict between the army and its rival.

The two factions agreed late on Thursday to prolong a ceasefire by 72 hours to allow for humanitarian access, but fighting flared in parts of the capital Khartoum on Friday, according to eyewitnesses and live video broadcasts.

Turkey’s defence ministry confirmed that a Turkish evacuation plane had been fired at and said there were no injuries. The RSF denied firing at the plane and said the army was "spreading lies".

"Our forces have remained strictly committed to the humanitarian truce that we agreed upon since midnight, and it is not true that we targeted any aircraft in the sky of Wadi Seyidna in Omdurman," the RSF said in a statement.

The Sudanese army said the plane was being repaired.

Why the US evacuation from Sudan left Americans behind

Friday 28 April 2023 09:00 , Shweta Sharma

Warring factions trying to seize control of Sudan have plunged the east African nation into chaos, and thousands are fleeing the capital of Khartoum and nearby battle zones.

Some countries, including the US, have shuttered their embassies and many are coordinating daring evacuations of their staffs and other residents in an array of convoys, flights and frantic getaway drives.

But over the past week, there have been dramatically different responses by various governments as they try to get their citizens and embassy personnel to safety.

The US has come under scrutiny for evacuating roughly 70 embassy staff in a helicopter mission by elite SEAL commandos over the weekend, while warning thousands of private American citizens in

Sudan that there would be no similar evacuation for them.

Why the US evacuation from Sudan left Americans behind

Fears grow for 3,000 Indian citizens trapped in Sudan: ‘I just want my wife and children rescued. Please help’

Friday 28 April 2023 08:30 , Shweta Sharma

Indian citizens stranded in conflict-ridden Sudan have desperately appealed for help and expressed their exasperation at the situation on the ground, with evacuations still yet to begin despite their home country dispatching a warship and two airforce planes to the region.

India has one of the largest contingents of foreign nationals still inside Sudan, with about 3,000 of its citizens believed to be stranded in the country that was last week thrust into civil conflict.

The families of these Indian nationals have appealed to the Narendra Modi administration on social media for their safe return. Speaking to The Independent, relatives back home expressed their anguish and worries over the wellbeing of their loved ones, and pleaded with the government for their swift and safe return.

Fears grow for 3,000 Indian citizens trapped in Sudan: ‘Please help’

Sudan’s health system on brink of collapse - diplomat

Friday 28 April 2023 08:15 , Matt Mathers

Sudan’s health system is on the brink of collapse, a top diplomat has warned.

Agnes Oswaha, South Sudan’s ambassador to the UK, also expressed fears of a refugee crisis should the fighting erupt again.

She said she hoped the ceasefire between the warring factions could continue.

More  comments below:

Britons among thousands queuing for days without food and water amid chaos at Egypt-Sudan border

Friday 28 April 2023 08:00 , Shweta Sharma

A British medical student and NHS doctor with her children are among thousands stuck in chaotic scenes at Sudan’s border with Egypt, in what is rapidly deteriorating into a humanitarian crisis.

The Britons became trapped in Khartoum when ferocious fighting between Sudan’s top generals erupted and they were forced to make the treacherous journey to the border where dire conditions awaited them.

Dr Lina Badr, 42, an NHS gynaecologist based in Birmingham, and her three children have been waiting in the queue for two days. She described chaos as thousands of desperate people wait to cross into Egypt in the heat with no way of securing food or water.

Britons among thousands queuing without food and water in chaos at Egypt-Sudan border

How is the UK evacuating people from Sudan?

Friday 28 April 2023 07:30 , Shweta Sharma

The first British nationals were evacuated from conflict-torn Sudan on Tuesday.

A 72-hour ceasefire between warring factions has provided a window for foreign nationals to escape a “dangerous, volatile and unpredictable” situation, according to prime minister Rishi Sunak.

Several previous ceasefires declared since the fighting started on 15 April were not observed, reported the Associated Press.

Here is a look at what we know about the evacuation plans so far.

How is the UK evacuating people from Sudan?

ICYMI: Ceasefire extended in Sudan in boost for British evacuation mission

Friday 28 April 2023 07:20 , Matt Mathers

Britain’s evacuation mission from Sudan may have been bought more time after the rival forces agreed a three-day extension to their ceasefire.

The RAF has airlifted nearly 900 people from near the capital Khartoum as they raced to evacuate British nationals ahead of midnight, when the resumption of fierce fighting loomed.

Ceasefire extended in Sudan in boost for British evacuation mission

White House press secretary quizzed on slow evacuation of Americans

Friday 28 April 2023 07:00 , Shweta Sharma

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre was asked why the US has still not taken advantage of the ceasefire to evacuate its citizens while the other countries are rushing evacuation from conflict-ridden Sudan.

“What is different about your risk assessment right now or security assessment than what other countries are looking at as they’ve gone in and gotten their people out?” a reporter asked during a White House briefing.

In what appeared to be a vague answer, Ms Jean-Pierre said the government has been pretty clear about the situation in Sudan for the past several months and years.

“As I just mentioned, there are consular services, a consular team that’s there, that’s trying to help Americans who want to leave in any way that we can,” she said.

She said the US had deployed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets to support air and land evacuations routes.

“That is something that we have done and which Americans are indeed using.”

While embassy staff was airlifted out, the US has yet not listed out a plan to provide similar evacuations for potentially thousands of Americans still in Sudan.

Nigeran government reacts after viral videos shows students stranded in the middle of desert

Friday 28 April 2023 06:30 , Shweta Sharma

Nigeria’s government has said buses evacuating its citizens from Sudan have resumed their journey after some distraught Nigerians alleged they were stranded in the middle of the desert by the bus.

The viral video showed a student saying “the buses evacuating Nigerian students and non-students stopped in the middle of the Sahara and the drivers refused to continue the journey because they had not been paid”.

“We have been stuck in this desert for five hours, we don’t know where we are, we have no money, no food, and we are in an unknown environment with very big danger. The bus driver said they will not move the bus until they collect money,” the student said in the video.

Abike Dabiri, the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), responded to the video by assuring the situation was resolved.

“They have started moving again. Whatever issues they have has been resolved,” she said.

Status of people evacuated by countries from Sudan

Friday 28 April 2023 06:15 , Shweta Sharma

United States

US forces evacuated American and some foreign diplomats on tomorrow. Washington said on Monday that several dozen Americans were travelling overland in a UN-led convoy to Port Sudan, and that dozens more had expressed an interest in leaving. It said it was positioning naval assets to assist evacuations if necessary.

Russia

Russia has not yet announced any evacuation of its embassy or its nationals from Khartoum. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the Russians in Sudan were in close contact with Moscow. “Cooperation and consultations are going on round the clock, and various possibilities are being examined. For now, no decision has been taken.”

Japan

All Japanese people who wished to leave have been evacuated, prime minister Fumio Kishida said.

Forty-five left on Monday night on a Japanese military flight, and eight others left with the help of France and other groups, he said.

Switzerland

Switzerland has already shut its embassy and evacuated all Swiss staff and their families.

China

China said most Chinese nationals have been safely evacuated in groups to neighbouring countries.

The foreign ministry said between Tuesday and Thursday, nearly 800 people have been transferred by sea and more than 300 have travelled to neighbouring countries of Sudan by land. There have been no casualty reports so far, the ministry said.

India

More than 1,200 Indians evacuated from Sudan had arrived in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia as of yesterday, and would soon be repatriated to India, the country’s junior foreign minister V. Muraleedharan said.

Canada

Canada conducted its first evacuation operation in Sudan on yesterday, airlifting over 100 hundred people, including Canadians and other nationals, on two flights from the war-torn North African country, senior government officials said.

There are about 1,800 Canadians in Sudan, out of which about 700 have requested assistance from the foreign ministry, according to the Canadian government.

Ukraine

Ukraine said it had rescued 87 of its citizens - most of them pilots, aircraft technicians and their families - among a total of 138 civilians, who also included citizens of Georgia and Peru.

Kenya

Kenya’s foreign affairs ministry said on yesterday the government had evacuated 342 people who had arrived in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from Port Sudan.

Status of people evacuated by countries from Sudan

Friday 28 April 2023 06:00 , Shweta Sharma

Egypt

Egypt has evacuated a total of 5327 Egyptians, 2648 of which were evacuated on yesterday. In a separate statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said some 16,000 people have crossed from Sudan to Egypt, including 14,000 Sudanese citizens.

Germany

As of Tuesday morning, a German evacuation mission had brought a total of 500 people from more than 30 countries to safety, including Belgian, British, Dutch, Jordanian and US citizens as well as Germans. Berlin said its flights would end on Tuesday.

France

The French government said on yesterday that it had so far evacuated a total of 936 people from Sudan. They have not only evacuated French nationals but also Britons, Americans, Canadians, Ethiopians, Dutch, Italians and Swedes.

Italy

Italian military planes flying from Djibouti evacuated 83 Italians and 13 others overnight, including children and the Italian ambassador. Foreign minister Antonio Tajani said some Italian NGO workers and missionaries had decided to stay in Sudan, while 19 others had been taken to Egypt two days ago.

Britain

Britain said it had begun a “large-scale” evacuation of its nationals on Tuesday, with priority given to families with children, the elderly and the infirm. It had evacuated 897 people on eight UK flights as of 1500 GMT on yesterday with more flights to come.

The government estimates there are about 4,000 Britons in Sudan. It evacuated its diplomats and their families on tomorrow.

Netherlands

About 100 Dutch nationals have been evacuated from Sudan since Sunday, foreign minister Wopke Hoekstra said.

Half left on four Dutch evacuation flights to Jordan, which also carried about 70 people from 14 other countries. The Netherlands aims to evacuate a total of around 150 Dutch nationals, and has supplied two military planes to the international effort, which are also available for other nationalities.

China evacuated 678 people from Sudan

Friday 28 April 2023 05:30 , Shweta Sharma

Two Chinese navy vessels docked in Jeddah on Thursday to evacuate the first batch of 678 people from Sudan, according to an official statement.

The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) guided-missile destroyer Nanning and comprehensive supply ship Weishanhu were dispatched to Sudan on Wednesday to carry out the emergency evacuation.

The evacuees included 668 Chinese citizens and 10 people of other nationalities, reported Xinhua.

India evacuates 1250 nationals from Sudan

Friday 28 April 2023 05:03 , Shweta Sharma

Around 1250 Indian nationals have been evacuated from Sudan and brought to Jeddah as the government continues to evacuate its people from the country.

Minister of state for External Affairs V Muraleedharan told Wion said the Indian government is committed to bringing back all its citizens safely back to the country.

There are around 3400 Indians in the conflict-torn Sudan, according to Indian govt estimates.

So far 10 batches of evacuees have been brought back to Jeddah from Port Sudan, spokesperson for foreign ministry Arindam Bagchi said.

Violence in Khartoum despite prolonged 72-hour ceasefire

Friday 28 April 2023 04:30 , Shweta Sharma

Violence continued in capital Khartoum and the western region of Darfur even as the two sides agreed to prolong a ceasefire agreement by 72 hours.

On Thursday, the RSF and military agreed to another 72-hour truce starting Friday, a decision welcomed by the UN, the African Union, African trade bloc IGAD and the quad countries.

Despite a partial lull in fighting since the first 72-hour ceasefire started, air strikes and anti-aircraft fire could be heard yesterday in the capital and the nearby cities of Omdurman and Bahri, witnesses and Reuters journalists said.

The White House raised deep concerns about the ceasefire violations.

It said the situation could worsen at any moment and urged US citizens to leave within 24 to 48 hours.

Wounded British doctor’s evacuation fate hangs in balance as he undergoes surgery at Sudan airfield

Friday 28 April 2023 04:00 , Joe Middleton

A wounded British doctor’s fate hangs in the balance as he undergoes surgery for an infected gunshot injury at an evacuation airfield in Sudan.

The doctor, who recently retired after working in the NHS for over 30 years, is having an operation under local anaesthetic to prevent the risk of developing sepsis.

If his infection develops into the potentially deadly condition, he would not be able to fly home on what could be the final evacuation flights back to the UK as the 72-hour ceasefire deadline enters its final hours.

Tara Cobham reports.

Wounded British doctor’s Sudan evacuation fate hangs in balance as undergoes surgery

Sudan: Emotional moment journalist finds uncle among evacuees

Friday 28 April 2023 03:00 , Joe Middleton

What is happening in Sudan and why? The war and conflict explained

Friday 28 April 2023 02:00 , Joe Middleton

Fighting has erupted in Sudan’s capital city Khartoum and across the country this month as powerful rival military factions battle for control of the African nation and its future.

The sudden slide into violence between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group called Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stranded thousands of foreigners, including diplomats and aid workers in the country, with the UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states among those closing embassies and racing to evacuate their nationals.

Joe Sommerlad explains.

What is happening in Sudan? The crisis explained

UK ‘pushing hard’ for ceasefire extension, says Cleverly

Friday 28 April 2023 01:00 , Joe Middleton

The UK is “pushing hard” for an extension to the ceasefire in Sudan by appealing directly to the generals on either side of the conflict, foreign secretary James Cleverly has said.

Cleverly told the Commons the government will “endeavour to keep evacuating people” from Sudan if the ceasefire ends at midnight (10pm UK time) – but cannot guarantee more flights.“

We are exploring the support to other routes, which is why we have set up a temporary presence at Port Sudan and why we have officials at the border in the neighbouring countries,” he said.

Senior Tory MP Alicia Kearns urged him to “review” the criteria so that elderly parents are included in immediate family and get on the flights. Mr Cleverly said the government wanted to be “as generous as possible” but there was a “challenge” about extending the criteria.

Challenged on patchy communication with UK nationals stuck in Sudan, Cleverly said officials had used WhatsApp groups to keep in touch with people.

And he said the Foreign Office has to give general advice for how to navigate through Sudan to be evacuated because offering specific advice about routes can put people in more danger.

Scramble to evacuate Britons from Sudan as ceasefire deadline looms

Thursday 27 April 2023 23:59 , Joe Middleton

The government was on Thursday scrambling to evacuate Britons from Sudan before an uneasy ceasefire ends at midnight and the country is potentially plunged back into fighting.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned it would be “potentially impossible” to continue the evacuation after fighting resumes and urged UK nationals to head for the airport.

The British ambassador on Thusday was said to be “pushing hard” for warring parties in the African country to extend their 72-hour truce – amid domestic and international criticism of the pace and nature of the UK government’s response.

Scramble to evacuate Britons from Sudan as ceasefire deadline looms

British nationals evacuated from Sudan finally reunited with relatives in UK

Thursday 27 April 2023 22:40 , Joe Middleton

NHS doctors denied seats on British evacuation planes left stranded in Sudan

Thursday 27 April 2023 21:40 , Joe Middleton

Two NHS doctors have been denied seats on British planes evacuating people from Sudan, leaving them stranded in the war zone just hours before its fragile ceasefire ends.

The junior doctors made the perilous journey to Wadi Saeedna airfield, where the UK government has been evacuating UK nationals, on the advice of their MP after UK citizens were urged to leave while they still can.

But they were turned away, prompting fears that the dozens of NHS doctors stuck in the country could face the same plight.

NHS doctors denied seats on British evacuation planes are stranded in Sudan war zone

Both sides in conflict agree to 72 hour ceasefire extension

Thursday 27 April 2023 21:34 , Matt Mathers

Sudan‘s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have agreed to a three-day extension to a ceasefire in Sudan.

The Sudanese military accepted the deal earlier on Thursday. The truce and its extension had been brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia.

The existing truce, which was to expire at midnight Thursday, has not stopped the fighting between the two sides but created enough of a lull for tens of thousands of Sudanese to flee to safer areas and for foreign nations to evacuate hundreds of their citizens by land and sea.

Scramble to evacuate Britons from Sudan as ceasefire deadline looms

Thursday 27 April 2023 20:40 , Joe Middleton

The government was on Thursday scrambling to evacuate Britons from Sudan before an uneasy ceasefire ends at midnight and the country is potentially plunged back into fighting.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned it would be “potentially impossible” to continue the evacuation after fighting resumes and urged UK nationals to head for the airport.

The British ambassador on Thusday was said to be “pushing hard” for warring parties in the African country to extend their 72-hour truce – amid domestic and international criticism of the pace and nature of the UK government’s response.

Jon Stone reports.

Scramble to evacuate Britons from Sudan as ceasefire deadline looms

Thursday 27 April 2023 19:40 , Joe Middleton

Foreign Office say 897 people evacuated from Sudan

Thursday 27 April 2023 18:40 , Joe Middleton

The British evacuation mission has rescued nearly 900 people from Sudan amid fears that fierce fighting could resume as the end of an agreed ceasefire approaches.

As of 4pm on Thursday, the Foreign Office said that 897 people had been evacuated over eight RAF airlifts. Further flights are expected.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said it will be “potentially impossible” to continue the operation after the truce agreed between rival generals ends at midnight.

More than 2,000 British nationals in Sudan have registered under the evacuation plans but the true number of citizens there could be far higher.

British ambassador to Sudan relocates from London to Ethiopia lead diplomatic efforts to end the fighting

Thursday 27 April 2023 18:07 , Joe Middleton

British ambassador to Sudan Giles Lever has been relocated from London to Ethiopia to lead diplomatic efforts to end the fighting in Sudan, the Foreign Office has said.

Mr Lever, who was not in Sudan when the violence broke out, had been working in the crisis centre in London.

“Basing our ambassador in Addis Ababa allows for direct co-ordination with the African Union, which is based in the Ethiopian capital and is playing a key role in resolving the crisis in Sudan,” the Foreign Office said.

Wounded British doctor’s evacuation fate hangs in balance as he undergoes surgery at Sudan airfield

Thursday 27 April 2023 17:50 , Joe Middleton

A wounded British doctor’s fate hangs in the balance as he undergoes surgery for an infected gunshot injury at an evacuation airfield in Sudan.

The doctor, who recently retired after working in the NHS for over 30 years, is having an operation under local anaesthetic to prevent the risk of developing sepsis.

If his infection develops into the potentially deadly condition, he would not be able to fly home on what could be the final evacuation flights back to the UK as the 72-hour ceasefire deadline enters its final hours.

Tara Cobham reports.

Wounded British doctor’s Sudan evacuation fate hangs in balance as undergoes surgery

British nationals evacuated from Sudan finally reunited with relatives in UK

Thursday 27 April 2023 17:37 , Joe Middleton

Watch: British nationals evacuated from Sudan finally reunited with relatives in UK

Thursday 27 April 2023 17:00 , Matt Mathers

British nationals evacuated from Sudan have been reunited with relatives and loved ones at Stansted Airport, with one man describing the conflict as a “nightmare”, Oliver Browning reports.

Women with small children and babies in prams were among approximately 300 people who were flown from Sudan, as well as elderly individuals in wheelchairs.

Family members and friends were waiting anxiously in the arrivals lounge and car park for the flight to arrive.

One man from Sudan, who did not give his name, described his experience as a “nightmare”.

Sudanese families of Britons should be evacuated too - shadow foreign secretary

Thursday 27 April 2023 16:00 , Matt Mathers

The Sudanese families of British nationals must be allowed to flee the country alongside their relatives, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has said.

He told the Commons: "It is not right that British nationals are unable to leave because their close Sudanese family members are being excluded from safe passage, especially as we know that planes have left the airfield without being full.

"Can I urge the foreign secretary to take swift action to ensure that British citizens can travel with their family now?"

Mr Lammy also asked about the prospects of extending the ceasefire, adding: "We all hope this ceasefire will hold, but there is every chance it will not.

"How confident is the foreign secretary that all who want to be evacuated will be by the time the ceasefire expires at midnight?

"What are the prospects of an extension, and will flights continue tomorrow anyway?"

Civil servants should not be ‘hounded’ by the press - Cleverly

Thursday 27 April 2023 15:30 , Matt Mathers

Foreign secretary James Cleverly said civil servants should not be "hounded" by the press, after concerns were raised in the Commons of media presence outside their homes.

Alicia Kearns, the Tory chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said: "Some media have been outside the homes of civil servants who are not senior civil servants, not just their homes, their parents’ homes.

"This is utterly unacceptable, and I would urge the Foreign Office to make clear to the media that this cannot continue."

Mr Cleverly said: "It is completely inappropriate that people who have dedicated their lives to public service and have operated through incredibly intense situations are hounded by the press in this way.

"And I would call upon responsible journalism in all respects."

Addressing Ms Kearns’ call to include elderly parents as dependants of UK nationals in Sudan, Mr Cleverly said there was a "real challenge" about extending the criteria for evacuation, but said he would "look at what we can do to be as supportive as possible", saying decisions are dependent on being able to continue the evacuation.

‘Further details to come’ on safe and legal asylum routes - Cleverly

Thursday 27 April 2023 15:00 , Matt Mathers

The UK has to give general advice for how to navigate through Sudan to be evacuated because specific advice can put people in more danger, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.

He told the Commons: "The travel advice that we give has to enhance the safety of British nationals overseas and not inadvertently put them at a greater risk.

"And there is often a lag - there is a lag between us finding out information, broadcasting that information, and that information acted upon, and one of the things that we have seen, not directly because of advice the UK has given, but the advice that other governments have given, is that they have inadvertently called people into more dangerous circumstances and those people have found themselves under attack, so we have to give general advice."

Addressing concerns raised over a lack of safe and legal routes for refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan, Mr Cleverly noted it is not the only conflict area in the world, and said: "Now the Illegal Migration Bill has... gone through the parliamentary stages here in the Commons, we will be, as we have promised, establishing safe and legal routes.

"That will be as part of our plan to control illegal migration, and further details will come through."

We’ll try to keep evacuating but no guarantees once ceasefire ends - foreign secretary

Thursday 27 April 2023 14:45 , Matt Mathers

The UK will “endeavour to keep evacuating people” from Sudan if the ceasefire does not hold after midnight on Thursday, the Foreign Secretary told MPs.

James Cleverly said: “However, it is almost impossible for us to predict whether there will be an extension and what the circumstances might be like if the extension does not happen.

“We will endeavour to keep evacuating people through the airhead in Wadi Seidna but we cannot guarantee our ability to do so.

“We are exploring the support to other routes, which is why we have set up a temporary presence at Port Sudan and why we have officials at the border in the neighbouring countries.”

UK ‘pushing hard’ for extension to ceasefire - foreign secretary

Thursday 27 April 2023 14:30 , Matt Mathers

The UK is "pushing hard" for an extension to the ceasefire in Sudan, the foreign secretary said, appealing directly to the generals on either side of the conflict.

James Cleverly told the Commons: "With regard to an extension of the ceasefire, we are pushing hard for that and we are amplifying the voices of those in the region, and more widely, that this is in the best interests of Sudan.

"I would say here at the despatch box for either of the generals who might be watching this statement, that if they aspire to be the leader of Sudan, demonstrating a willingness to protect the people of Sudan would be a very important starting point."

Evacuate our doctor stranded in Sudan, hospital boss urges foreign secretary

Thursday 27 April 2023 14:10 , Matt Mathers

An NHS trust boss has urged the foreign secretary to ensure one of its doctors stranded in Sudan gets home safely.

Earlier two junior doctors - who did not want to give their names over security concerns - said they had been denied places on an evacuation plane.

Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are aware that one of our well respected emergency medicine doctors is currently stuck in Sudan with his family. Colleagues at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust are all incredibly concerned for his safety.

“I have written to the secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs as well as our local MP Robin Walker to urge that they do all they can to ensure his safe return as soon as possible.”

What is happening in Sudan and why? The war and conflict explained

Thursday 27 April 2023 13:45 , Matt Mathers

Tension had been building for months between Sudan’s army and the RSF, which together toppled a civilian government in an October 2021 coup.

The friction was brought to a head by an internationally-backed plan to launch a new transition with civilian parties. A final deal was due to be signed earlier in April, on the fourth anniversary of the overthrow of long-ruling autocrat Omar al-Bashir in a popular uprising.

Joe Middleton reports:

What is happening in Sudan? The crisis explained

No current plans for specific resettle scheme for Sudan - No 10

Thursday 27 April 2023 13:20 , Matt Mathers

Downing Street said there were no current plans to create a specific resettlement scheme for anyone fleeing Sudan.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said there were no plans, but that it was "something we keep under review".

He also said the UK would "obviously support any extensions to the ceasefire. It’s something we are actively lobbying for".

Evacuation eligibility requirements have not changed - Downing Street

Thursday 27 April 2023 13:10 , Matt Mathers

Downing Street said that evacuation eligibility requirements had not changed but that there was "an element of discretion" for those working on the ground in Sudan.

Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible for evacuation.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said that remained the case, but added: "There is an element of discretion for people on the ground as you might expect, given the circumstances and the challenging situation people will be facing."

Asked to explain the meaning of "discretion", the spokesman said: "You should not go to the airport unless you are a British passport holder or their dependent, that is set out very clearly.

"I think what we are saying is we recognise these are very challenging circumstances and, as we have done on previous occasions, we obviously empower people on the ground to make decisions."

Government ‘doesn’t recognise’ claims UK caused delays to Germany evacuation effort

Thursday 27 April 2023 12:50 , Matt Mathers

Downing Street said it did not recognise claims that the UK caused delays in Germany’s efforts to evacuate its citizens from Sudan with its mission to rescue British embassy staff at the weekend.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: "I don’t recognise those claims at all.

"We have been working extremely closely with our French, US and German partners.

"It is not accurate to suggest that Britain’s efforts to evacuate embassy staff from Sudan last weekend slowed down Germany’s plans."

Full report: NHS doctors denied seats on British evacuation planes left stranded in Sudan

Thursday 27 April 2023 12:17 , Matt Mathers

Two NHS doctors have been denied seats on British planes evacuating people from Sudan, leaving them stranded in the war zone just hours before its fragile ceasefire ends.

The junior doctors made the perilous journey to Wadi Saeedna airfield, where the UK government has been evacuating UK nationals, on the advice of their MP after UK citizens were urged to leave while they still can.

Tara Cobham has the full story:

NHS doctors denied seats on British evacuation planes are stranded in Sudan war zone

Fighting in Darfur mars fragile truce

Thursday 27 April 2023 11:17 , Matt Mathers

Fighting has intensified in Sudan’s war-ravaged province of Darfur during a fragile three-day truce between the country’s battling top generals, killing an estimated dozens of people, residents say.

The truce eased fighting in the country’s capital, creating a lull that has allowed foreign governments to evacuate thousands of their nationals.

Tens of thousands of Sudanese travelled to their country’s land borders with Egypt, Chad and Ethiopia, and to a port city on the country’s Red Sea.

The new clashes targeted civilians in the capital city of Genena, residents said, an area regularly roiled by outbursts of brutal tribal violence.

Locals described attacks by fighters, mostly wearing the uniforms of the country’s powerful paramilitary, on several neighbourhoods across the city early on Thursday, forcing many families to leave their homes.

"The attacks come from all directions," said Amany, a Genena resident who withheld her surname for her safety.

"All are fleeing."

Two doctors denied seats on evacuation plane

Thursday 27 April 2023 10:39 , Matt Mathers

Two NHS doctors have been denied seats on British planes evacuating Sudan, leaving them stranded in a war zone on the day the country’s fragile ceasefire comes to an end, with fears more NHS doctors could be facing the same plight, Tara Cobham reports.

Following the advice of one of their MPs, the junior doctors said they made the perilous journey to Wadi Saeedna airfield, where the British have been evacuating UK nationals during an agreed 72-hour ceasefire.

Upon arrival, Adulrahman and his fellow doctor, who are not disclosing their full names for safety reasons, said: “Even showing them that I work for the NHS, they didn’t want to talk further and they showed me the way out.” Dr Reem Taha - who is a member of the Sudanese Junior Doctors Association UK, which has a WhatsApp group of 71 Sudanese NHS doctors who have been trapped in Sudan - said there are more NHS doctors with BRPs who are making their way to the evacuation point on Friday and are “devastated” to hear the news the two had been turned away, fearful they face the same plight.

The pair, who had been visiting extended family for Eid al-Fitr, had risked their lives to travel through the night from Khartoum, which has been at the epicentre of the fighting since fierce clashes between forces loyal to the country’s two top generals erupted in the city on 15 April. Dr Taha, an NHS doctor based in South Yorkshire who has been in touch with the duo, told The Independent this highlighted how “desperate they are to be evacuated”.

She said: “You pass through at least 10 checkpoints until you get there. You have to cross a bridge that’s not safe and is a particular area of conflict. It is a dangerous journey and people try to avoid it at night. The fact that they tried to get there at night shows you how desperate they are to be evacuated.”

End of ceasefire could result in humanitarian catastrophe - minister

Thursday 27 April 2023 09:26 , Matt Mathers

Africa minister Andrew Mitchell warned that an end to the ceasefire could result in a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan.

He told the foreign affairs think tank Chatham House: "It is essential that a ceasefire is maintained and that a political process is secured.

"If not, the humanitarian consequences will be incalculable.

"The UK will continue to work tirelessly to help bring an end to the violence and provide vital humanitarian relief."

Cleverly avoids questions on safe and legal routes for Sudan

Thursday 27 April 2023 09:10 , Matt Mathers

James Cleverly has refused to get into details about the possibility of safe and legal routes for those fleeing Sudan to get to the UK.

The foreign secretary said: "There is war and conflict all over the world. There are literally millions upon millions of people who are in countries plagued by war. We recognise that we cannot host everybody who is in a country plagued by war.

"Sudan is not the only country suffering from conflict and so picking out Sudan because it happens to be in the news, I think, diminishes the suffering of other people around the world firstly, and, secondly, we have to remember there are millions upon millions of people who are fleeing conflict or who are fleeing economic privations."

Mapped

The map below shows Sudan’s location in North Africa. Khartoum, the capital, is where the most intense fighting is taking place.

WHO fears more deaths in Sudan due to outbreaks, collapse of services

Thursday 27 April 2023 08:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta

The World Health Organisation (WHO) expects “many more” deaths in Sudan.

The world health agency said yesterday that there could be many more deaths due to outbreaks of disease and a lack of essential services amid fighting between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary, reported Reuters.

Since mid April, the ongoing fighting has killed at least 459 people and injured more than 4,000, according to the WHO.

Cleverly - we’re pushing for ceasefire extension

Thursday 27 April 2023 08:14 , Matt Mathers

The UK is pushing for an extension to the ceasefire in Sudan, the foreign secretary has said - Archie Mitchell reports.

Speaking to Sky News, James Cleverly said: “We pushed for the original ceasefire, we are pushing to have the ceasefire extended, we are pushing with our international partners and leaders in the region, to have a permanent peace settlement.

“But the point I’m making is I can’t guarantee any of those things. If they happen, that’s great, that’s what we’re pushing for.My worry is if people are having to make difficult decisions, and of course they are, if they are basing those decisions on a belief that this ceasefire will continue, and then it doesn’t, they put themselves in a more dangerous situation.

“So my strong advice is to err on the side of caution, take advantage of what we know, which is the ceasefire is currently holding, even though we don’t know whether it’ll hold for the full duration, rather than relying on what might not happen, which is an extension of the ceasefire, which of course we are pushing for.

ICYMI: Dodging bullets and paying thousands: How these British families escaped wartorn Sudan

Thursday 27 April 2023 08:00 , Sravasti Dasgupta

British families fleeing Sudan have described dodging heavy gunfire and bombing in their bids to escape the wartorn country after the Foreign Office “failed” to secure safe routes out.

Many have spent thousands to escape the country safely.

Bel Trew and Tara Cobham report:

Dodging bullets and paying thousands: How these families escaped wartorn Sudan

‘Potentially impossible’ to evacuate Britons once ceasefire ends - Cleverly

Thursday 27 April 2023 07:54 , Matt Mathers

It may be “impossible” to evacuate British citizens from Sudan once the war-torn country’s fragile ceasefire ends, the foreign secretary has warned.

James Cleverly said that the UK government could not predict what would happen once intense fighting resumed.

He urged British nationals who may be “hesitant” or “weighing up their options” to make their way to the extraction point, where there were “planes and capacity” to get people out.

ICYMI: Wounded British doctor’s agonising choice – risk deadly infection or leave mother in Sudan war zone

Thursday 27 April 2023 07:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta

A British doctor is facing an agonising choice of either risking a deadly infection from his gunshot wound or leaving his vulnerable elderly mother to fend for herself in a war zone in Sudan.

Tara Cobham reports:

Wounded British doctor faces agonising decision in Sudan

Over 500 Britons brought to safety from Sudan with more flights to come

Thursday 27 April 2023 07:00 , Sravasti Dasgupta

The British evacuation mission from Sudan has lifted 536 people to safety on six flights as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said “in a fast-moving situation” these were the figures at 9pm on Wednesday “with further flights to come”.

Read more:

UK brings more than 500 people to safety from Sudan with more flights to come

Sudan evacuations can continue ‘even if ceasefire breaks’

Thursday 27 April 2023 06:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Air evacuations from Sudan can continue even if a fragile ceasefire breaks, military chiefs said yesterday, as the first flight carrying British nationals arrived back in Britain.

Brigadier Dan Reeve, Britain’s chief of joint force operations, said that up to 500 people a day can be flown out of Wadi Saeedna, an airfield just north of Khartoum, with transport planes available to increase that number if necessary.

“The ceasefire itself was not a condition for us launching this operation, although of course it helped and was a useful window,” he said.

Kim Sengupta, Rebecca Thomas and Kate Devlin report:

Sudan evacuations can continue ‘even if ceasefire breaks’

How ‘Putin’s chef’ and his Wagner Group are cashing in on Sudan

Thursday 27 April 2023 06:00 , Martha Mchardy

They’ve drawn most attention in eastern Ukraine, but it seems wherever war breaks out – from Syria to Sudan – this group of mercenaries can be found profiting from bloodshed, writes World Affairs Editor Kim Sengupta.

How ‘Putin’s chef’ and his Wagner Group are cashing in on Sudan

Blinken and African Union Commission chairperson discuss ending Sudan fighting

Thursday 27 April 2023 05:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta

US secretary of state Antony Blinken and African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat discussed working together to create a sustainable end to the fighting in Sudan, the State Department said in a statement yesterday.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the two spoke about a “collaboration to create a sustainable cessation of hostilities and end the fighting in Sudan”.

“Secretary Blinken and chairperson Faki agreed that the AU’s continued leadership remains essential in pressing the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to immediately cease military operations and allow unhindered humanitarian access,” the statement said.

What could happen in Sudan?

Thursday 27 April 2023 05:00 , Martha Mchardy

International parties have called for a ceasefire and a return to dialogue but there has been little sign of compromise from the warring factions.

The army has branded the RSF as a rebel force and demanded its dissolution, while Hemedti has called Burhan a criminal and blamed him for visiting destruction on the country.

Though Sudan’s army has superior resources including air power and the RSF expanded into a force estimated at 100,000 men that had deployed across Khartoum and its neighbouring cities as well as in other regions, raising the spectre of protracted conflict on top of a long-running economic crisis and existing, large-scale humanitarian needs.

The RSF can also draw on support and tribal ties in the western region of Darfur, where it emerged from the militias that fought alongside government forces to crush rebels in a brutal war that escalated after 2003.

Fighting flares as military approves ceasefire extension

Thursday 27 April 2023 04:48 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Fighting flared in Sudan yesterday as Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) battled on Khartoum’s outskirts, undermining a truce in their 11-day conflict.

The fighting came as the army agreed to extending the ceasefire that is in force till today.

The army late last night said its leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, gave initial approval to a plan to extend the truce for another 72 hours and send an army envoy to the South Sudan capital, Juba, for talks, reported Reuters.

There was no immediate response from the RSF to the proposal from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional bloc.

The military said the presidents of South Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti worked on a proposal that includes extending the truce and talks between the two forces.

“Burhan thanked the IGAD and expressed an initial approval to that,” the army statement said.

Which countries are evacuating citizens from Sudan?

Thursday 27 April 2023 04:00 , Martha Mchardy

The conflict between Sudan‘s army and a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered a rush to extract foreign diplomats and citizens.

Several countries have evacuated nationals by air, while some have gone via Port Sudan on the Red Sea, about 500 miles (800 km) by road from Khartoum.

UK

Britain is beginning a “large-scale” evacuation of its citizens, with priority given to families with children, the elderly and the infirm. Foreign minister James Cleverly said the UK is working closely with its international partners.

The government estimates there are around 4,000 Britons in Sudan. It evacuated its diplomats and their families on Saturday.

Japan

All Japanese people who wished to leave have been evacuated, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.

Forty-five left on Monday night on a Japanese military flight, and eight others left with the help of France and other groups, he said.

Germany

As of Tuesday morning, a German evacuation mission had brought a total of 500 people from more than 30 countries to safety, including Belgian, British, Dutch, Jordanian and US citizens as well as Germans.

The country’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said efforts were under way to get the remaining Germans out, but did not say how many were left.

France

France has evacuated more than 500 people from Sudan, comprising more than 200 French citizens as well as Americans, Britons and others, President Emmanuel Macron told his government.

Paris has also sent a warship to Port Sudan to help pick up evacuees, two diplomatic sources said.

Italy

Italian military planes flying from Djibouti evacuated 83 Italians and 13 others overnight, including children and the Italian ambassador.

The country’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said some Italian NGO workers and missionaries had decided to stay in Sudan, while 19 others had been taken to Egypt two days ago.

Cyprus

Cyprus said on Tuesday it had activated a humanitarian rescue mechanism to allow third countries to use its facilities to evacuate foreign citizens from Sudan.

China

Most Chinese nationals have been safely evacuated in groups to neighbouring countries, China’s Foreign Ministry said.

United States of America

US forces evacuated American and some foreign diplomats on Saturday.

Washington said on Monday that several dozen Americans were travelling overland in a UN-led convoy to Port Sudan, and that dozens more had expressed an interest in leaving.

It said it was positioning naval assets to assist evacuations if necessary.

Ukraine

Kyiv said it had rescued of its 87 citizens - most of them pilots, aircraft technicians and their families - among a total of 138 civilians, who also included citizens of Georgia and Peru.

South Africa

Officials said it expected the last 12 of its nationals known to be in Sudan to have left on Tuesday.

Egypt

On Monday, Egypt said it had evacuated 436 of its nationals out of about 10,000 in neighbouring Sudan. It said one of its diplomats had been wounded by gunfire, without giving details.

About 800 Sudanese and 100 foreigners had passed through the Egyptian border with Sudan, two Egyptian security sources said, as Egypt loosened restrictions on those allowed in.

Saudi Arabia and Gulf Arab states

Saudi Arabia took 91 Saudis and about 66 people from other countries out from Port Sudan by naval ship to Jeddah on Saturday.

Kuwait said all citizens wishing to return home had arrived in Jeddah.

Qatar said Saudi Arabia had helped evacuate Qatari citizens. Sudan’s army accused the RSF of attacking and looting a Qatari embassy convoy heading to Port Sudan. It was not clear if it was the same group that left for Saudi Arabia. The RSF and Qatar have not commented.

Russia

Moscow’s ambassador in Khartoum said 140 of about 300 Russians in Sudan had said they wanted to leave, but said evacuation plans could not yet be implemented because they involved crossing front lines. He said there were about 15 people, including a woman and child, stuck in a Russian Orthodox church close to heavy fighting in Khartoum.

What’s going on in Sudan?

Thursday 27 April 2023 03:00 , Martha Mchardy

Fighting has erupted in Sudan’s capital city Khartoum and other sites across the country this month as powerful rival military factions battle for control of the African nation and its future.

So far, over 420 people, including 264 civilians, have been killed in the conflict and over 3,700 wounded.

Tension had been building for months between Sudan’s army and the RSF, which together toppled a civilian government in an October 2021 coup.

The friction was brought to a head by an internationally-backed plan to launch a new transition with civilian parties. A final deal was due to be signed earlier in April, on the fourth anniversary of the overthrow of long-ruling autocrat Omar al-Bashir in a popular uprising.

Both the army and the RSF were required to cede power under the plan and two issues proved particularly contentious: one was the timetable for the RSF to be integrated into the regular armed forces, the second was when the army would be formally placed under civilian oversight.

When fighting broke out on 15 April, both sides blamed the other for provoking the violence. The army accused the RSF of illegal mobilisation in preceding days and the RSF, as it moved on key strategic sites in Khartoum, said the army had tried to seize full power in a plot with Bashir loyalists.

Watch: Moment plane carrying British nationals escaping Sudan lands at Stansted Airport

Thursday 27 April 2023 02:00 , Martha Mchardy

Braverman rebuked over claim Sudanese refugees can seek asylum in UK

Thursday 27 April 2023 01:00 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman has been rebuked by the UN’s refugee agency for falsely claiming Sudanese asylum seekers have “various” legal ways to reach the UK.

The Home Secretary said there was “no good reason” for those fleeing Sudan to cross the English Channel in small boats and instead urged asylum seekers to contact the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

“If you are fleeing Sudan for humanitarian reasons, there are various mechanisms you can use, the UNHCR is present in the region and they are the right mechanism by which people should apply if they do want to seek asylum in the UK,” Ms Braverman said.

But the UNHCR quickly responded, saying it was “aware” of the statement and “wished to clarify” that there is “no mechanism” for refugees to seek asylum in the UK through the organisation.

“There is no asylum visa or ‘queue’ for the United Kingdom,” it said. The UNHCR added that an “overwhelming majority” of refugees have no access to safe and legal routes to the UK, noting that only a “very small” number seek asylum here.

Archie Mitchell reports:

Braverman rebuked for claim Sudanese asylum seekers have ‘various’ ways to come to UK

Britons among thousands queuing for days without food and water amid chaos at Egypt-Sudan border

Thursday 27 April 2023 00:00 , Martha Mchardy

A British medical student and NHS doctor with her children are among thousands stuck in chaotic scenes at Sudan’s border with Egypt, in what is rapidly deteriorating into a humanitarian crisis.

The Britons became trapped in Khartoum when ferocious fighting between Sudan’s top generals erupted and they were forced to make the treacherous journey to the border where dire conditions awaited them.

Dr Lina Badr, 42, an NHS gynaecologist based in Birmingham, and her three children have been waiting in the queue for two days. She described chaos as thousands of desperate people wait to cross into Egypt in the heat with no way of securing food or water.

Tara Cobham and Bel Trew report:

Britons among thousands queuing without food and water in chaos at Egypt-Sudan border

Father told children ‘it was like hide-and-seek’ amid gunfight near Sudan home

Wednesday 26 April 2023 23:00 , Martha Mchardy

A British-Sudanese father of three has said he told his children “it was like a hide-and-seek game” when his home was caught in the middle of a gunfight in Sudan.

Munzir Salman was at home in Khartoum with his three children when Sudanese armed forces soldiers were ambushed by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) officers outside his block of flats.

The 37-year-old, who has dual citizenship, spoke to the PA news agency while he and his children waited to fly to the UK via Larnaca, Cyprus.

He said: “What happened was some army soldiers were coming through and they were ambushed by the RSF.

“They then ran behind my house, and they were shooting at each other, I was in the middle.

“It was horrendous and, unfortunately, it’s not the first time I’ve had gunshots around me. I’m a single father of three kids so I had to stay calm for them.

“I had to tell them it was like a game and told them it was like a hide-and-seek game.

“It was an experience they had never been through before, it was very scary but I tried to make it a game for them.

“I explained the danger before trying to make it like Tom and Jerry where the people outside were Tom and we were Jerry.”

Ben Roberts-Haslam reports:

Father told children ‘it was like hide-and-seek’ amid gunfight near Sudan home

Watch: Thousands wait for days in dire conditions at Egypt-Sudan border

Wednesday 26 April 2023 22:00 , Martha Mchardy

Six UK flights have evacuated 536 people from Sudan

Wednesday 26 April 2023 21:48 , Martha Mchardy

Six UK flights have evacuated 536 people from war-torn Sudan, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said.

British-Sudanese woman 'takes matters into her own hands' to flee Sudan

Wednesday 26 April 2023 21:00 , Martha Mchardy

Caught up in a conflict that flared during what was meant to be a brief trip to Khartoum, British-Sudanese author Rozan Ahmed spent days calling the UK embassy for advice until she finally took matters into her own hands and boarded a bus for Egypt.

The scenes she filmed on her phone as she left give an insight into the violence sweeping through the Sudanese capital since a power struggle between the army and the RSF paramilitary group escalated into all out conflict on April 15.

The clashes have killed at least 512 people.

“I contacted the British embassy. I would say all day, every day for a week to see when we would be able to be evacuated,” she told Reuters from Cairo.

“No solid plan was given to us a week later, which is when I decided to take matters into my own hands because I ran out of water,” she said, describing cowering at home with dwindling provisions as gunfire, shelling and air strikes raged outside.

Britain, with an estimated 4,000 nationals in Sudan, began airlift evacuations on Tuesday to Cyprus. It has been criticised for lagging other European countries in flying out citizens.

Ahmed said she and others mobilised to plan their escape, after hearing some people were heading north by bus to Egypt.

“We hired a bus. There were about 50 of us,” she said.

Moving through the war zone was the most frightening part.

“On a number of occasions we drove past tanks and heavily armed humans. That just terrified us because we had heard reports of buses being stopped and robbed and people being shot... That left me truly shaken. But we didn’t have a choice.”

Although feeling absolutely petrified, externally she was remarkably composed and calm, Ahmed said.

“I suppose you know what they say - God takes the wheel.”

Her journey from Khartoum to the Egyptian border took 12 hours but then it took another day and a half to enter Egypt because of the queues.

She plans on leaving Egypt after taking a few days to recover from her ordeal.

“My heart is still in Sudan. I can’t stop thinking about the people that are stuck there, who don’t have the means to get out. I really hope and pray that evacuations are now in order. That there is support, that there is assistance.

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website