UK evacuations from Sudan could be ‘impossible’ when truce ends, warns foreign secretary
Britons are being urged to go to the Wadi Saeedna air strip as soon as possible amid fears flights out of Sudan will become too dangerous when a truce ends tonight.
Thursday 27 April 2023 11:37, UK
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Foreign secretary, James Cleverly, says the ceasefire has made evacuations in Sudan 'considerably easier' but fear is growing it will become 'potentially impossible' after it ends. He urges people considering leaving to act now rather than relying on an extension that 'may not happen'.1:47
Play Video – Sudan rescues may soon be ‘impossible’
Rescue may be ‘impossible’ when truce ends
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The foreign secretary has warned Britons stranded in Sudan it could be “impossible” to evacuate them when a ceasefire expires later – as he urged people to head to an air strip as soon as possible.
James Cleverly told Sky’s Kay Burley: “We cannot predict exactly what will happen when that ceasefire ends, but what we do know is that it will be much much harder – potentially impossible.”
He said that – as of Wednesday night – 536 Britons had been rescued on six flights and that a “steady flow” of people were arriving at an air strip to board RAF planes.
Time is ticking down on a 72-hour truce between Sudan’s two warring factions, which is due to expire at midnight local time (11pm UK time), and there are fears clashes that have killed hundreds will continue.
Mr Cleverly urged UK nationals who want to leave Sudan to go to the Wadi Saeedna air strip near Khartoum as soon as possible.
“There are planes, there is capacity – we will lift you out. I’m not able to make those same assurances once the ceasefire has ended.
“So if you’re planning to move, move now,” he said.
There is an effort to extend the ceasefire, but nothing has been agreed so far.
At least 512 people have died and thousands injured since the power struggle between Sudan’s army and paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) descended into fighting almost two weeks ago.
More than 2,000 Britons in Sudan have registered with the Foreign Office evacuation plan, but thousands more could be in the country.
Sudan evacuees arrive at Stansted Airport2:45
Play Video – Sudan: Relief and joy to be back
Sudan: Relief and joy to be back
Ministry of Defence handout photo dated 25/04/23 of British Nationals being evacuated from Khartoum, Sudan by UK military personnel. The British evacuation mission from Sudan has lifted 301 people to safety over four flights as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. Issue date: Wednesday April 26, 2023.
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RAF planes are evacuating Britons using an air strip near Khartoum
Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are eligible for evacuation.
However, Mr Cleverly said a “few nationals of other countries” had also been allowed on its planes out of Sudan.
RAF planes are evacuating people to Cyprus, where they are met by Foreign Office officials and medics, before being flown to London Stansted on commercial jets.
UK officials and medics are meeting the evacuees at an airport in Cyprus
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UK officials and medics are meeting the evacuees at an airport in Cyprus
Another five or six UK flights, carrying around 500 to 800 people in total, are expected to land on the island on Thursday, said Sky’s Alistair Bunkall.
He said the processing of the evacuees at Larnaca airport appeared to be “pretty slick”.
The government is also working on a sea evacuation route from Port Sudan and the HMS Lancaster has been dispatched. Other countries have being using the city to get people out.
Military analyst Sean Bell said it was "quite possible" the British government is preparing for further evacuations after the 72-hour truce ends, given its military footprint in the airfield outside Khartoum.
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Play Video – Dangerous journey to the RAF base
Evacuees face risky journey to get to air strip
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has ruled out introducing a safe and legal route for asylum seekers in Sudan to come to the UK.
She said there were “no plans to do that” and the focus was “first and foremost” to “support British nationals and their dependants”.
Read more:
How can British nationals get to the RAF base?
Traumatised Sudan evacuees describe ‘horrendous’ scenes
Explainer: What’s behind the Sudan fighting?
Home Secretary Suella Braverman during a visit to Northamptonshire Police's Giffard House Training Centre, in Northampton0:31
Play Video – ‘No plans for safe routes for refugees’
‘No plans for safe routes for refugees’
Some have criticised the government for being too slow to start its evacuation plan, with countries such as Germany completing evacuations on Tuesday night.
UK diplomats and their families were evacuated from Sudan in a mission involving elite troops at the weekend.
Africa minister Andrew Mitchell has said Britain’s evacuation effort is “going very smoothly” but warned we are “in the hands of the ceasefire”.
He told Sky News “we are doing everything we can” to prolong the truce but warned of a “humanitarian catastrophe” if the two sides continued fighting.
The head of Sudan’s army said on Wednesday evening it had “initially accepted” a plan to extend the ceasefire by another 72 hours.
A statement indicated General Abdel Fattah al Burhan was open to sending an envoy to the capital of South Sudan, Juba, for talks.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an eight-country trade bloc, proposed the truce deal, which includes both the army and the RSF sending representatives to discuss a longer ceasefire.
There was no immediate comment from the RSF, which, if accepted by both sides, would mark a major breakthrough.
The fighting has pushed Sudan’s population to near breaking point, with food becoming scarce, electricity cut off across much of the capital and other cities, and many hospitals shut down.
Multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and the UN refugee agency said it was gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing to neighbouring countries.
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