Countries Rush High-risk Sudan Evacuation, Amid Fierce Fighting

The eruption of fighting on April 15 between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group has triggered a humanitarian crisis, killed 420 people, leaving 3700 injured and trapped millions of Sudanese without access to basic services.

Battles continue to rage in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere between troops loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed “Hemedti” Hamdan Daglo, commander of the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Earlier, the United States evacuated about 100 of its diplomatic staff and subsequently suspended operations at the Embassy in Khartoum.

https://www.nairaland.com/7663079/us-evacuates-diplomats-families-shuts#122690005

This morning, UK Armed Forces undertook a military operation alongside the US, France & other allies. They have evacuated British Embassy staff & their dependants from Khartoum due to the escalating threats.

The operation involved more than 1200 British personnel from 16 Air Assault Brigade,the Royal Marines and the RAF. I am grateful to all our partners including Cyprus. I want to pay tribute to the bravery and professionalism of our armed forces. @RoyalNavy @RoyalMarines @16AirAssltBCT

Rt. Hon. Ben Wallace MP (UK Secretary of State for Defence) 

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SAUDI ARABIA
In the implementation of the directives of the Kingdom's Leadership, we are pleased to announce the safe arrival of the evacuated citizens of the Kingdom from Sudan and several nationals of brotherly & friendly countries, including diplomats & international officials, who arrived in an evacuation operation carried out by the Royal Saudi
Naval Forces with the support of various branches of the Armed Forces. 

The number of Saudi citizens who were evacuated reached 91, while the number of people who were evacuated from brotherly and friendly countries reached approximately 66, representing the following nationalities (Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, India, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Canada, and Burkina Faso). 

The Kingdom worked to provide all the necessary needs of foreign nationals in preparation for their departure to their
countries.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 

#SaudiArabia succeeded in carrying out another evacuation trip, and transferred Korean citizens from Sudan to Jeddah.

SOURCE 

#Sudan: For security reasons, we are closing our embassy in Khartoum. Our staff and their families have been evacuated & are safe. This was made possible thanks to a collaboration with our partners, in particular France 🇫🇷. Thanks for their support.

Work is ongoing to help Swiss nationals in Sudan as best as possible in difficult circumstances. We are working closely with third countries and partners” to carry out evacuations of its nationals wherever possible.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland 

Evacuation operations that have been launched in Khartoum are continuing. Two new rotations were ensured by the means of the Air and Space Force, between Khartoum and Djibouti at the end of the day on April 23 and then in the morning of April 24, with each time a hundred people on board.

These rotations made it possible to evacuate 388 people, including French nationals who wanted to, as well as a significant number of citizens of other countries, particularly European ones (Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Romania, United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland) but also African (South Africa, Burundi, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Uganda, Rwanda Sudan), America (United States, Canada) and from Asia (India, Japan, Philippines).

All State services remain fully mobilized to ensure new evacuations as soon as possible.

French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs 

The 3 diplomats that served at the Norwegian Embassy in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, have been evacuated.
The Embassy has been closed, but the MFA is fully focused on providing assistance to Norwegian citizens & individuals holding a residence permit. About 80 Norwegian citizens live in Sudan.

Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs 

Sweden is very grateful to France for the excellent assistance offered by the French Air Force in the evacuation of Swedish citizens and our diplomatic staff in Khartoum from Sudan. The contacts have been first-rate and key to success. Merci beaucoup @MinColonna ⭐️🇸🇪🤝🇫🇷⭐️

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Tobias Lennart Billström 

The Spanish AirForce planes have just taken off from Khartoum carrying our citizens and diplomats. Other EU and Latin American nationals also on board. Our convoy arrived safely to the airport. 

We reiterate the call for a ceasefire and resumption of dialogue in Sudan.

(30 Spanish Citizens and 70 others from Argentina, Colombia, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Mexico, Venezuela)

Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, Spain's Foreign Minister 

Following the Minister of Foreign Affairs' constant contacts for the safe evacuation of the Greek citizens from Sudan, the first group of Greek citizens, including the two injured, has left Sudan, with the assistance of France and is on board a flight to Djibouti. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was briefed on this development.

The Ambassador of Greece to Ethiopia and the Honorary Consul of our country in Djibouti are already there to receive the Greek citizens and provide any assistance.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greece 

At night, a third A400M from the German Joint Forces in Sudan took off and landed safely in the early hours of the morning. During the evacuation operation, 313 people have been evacuated and brought to Jordan so far, from where an onward journey is being organised.

German Joint Forces Operations Command 

After a day of anxious waiting, all our compatriots in Sudan who have asked to leave have been evacuated. There are also foreign nationals with them. Italy leaves no one behind. I want to thank all those who participated in this very difficult operation, in the middle of a combat zone, my applause goes to Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and to the Farnesina Crisis Unit, to Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, to Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, to the Chief of Defense Staff, Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, to the commander of Covi, General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, to our ambassador in Sudan, Michele Tommasi, to the Security Services. Also on this occasion I want to renew my appeal for an end to the war.

Office of the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni 
Italy evacuated about 300 people in total

We’ve temporarily suspended Canada’s operations in Sudan. Our diplomats are safe – they have been extracted and are working from outside the country – and we are looking at every possible option to support our locally-engaged staff.

We are also looking at every possible option to support Canadians in Sudan. We are extremely concerned by the dangerous and rapidly evolving situation on the ground, and our officials are staying in contact with Canadians affected.

Canadian officials in nearby countries have also been mobilized to help. We have deployed our Standing Rapid Deployment Team to Djibouti to enhance our ability to support and further assess needs, and @CanadianForces members are planning for various contingencies with partners.

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Pierre James Trudeau 

Egypt successfully evacuated 436 citizens through land from Sudan today. the Egyptian Foreign Ministry continues its timely efforts to secure evacuation and ensure the safety and successful return of her citizens to their homeland.

Ahmed Abu Zeid, Egypt Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson 

At 00:52 a Defense C-130 Hercules transport aircraft departed from Sudan with evacuees of various nationalities, including Dutch, on board. The aircraft is currently flying back to Jordan. The Dutch were also able to leave with flights from other countries. Dutch and European military personnel and employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ensured that the evacuations went smoothly. 

Dutch Ministry of Defence 

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said eight Belgians had been evacuated so far from Sudan, with around 30 remaining in the country.

SOURCE 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates announces its notification by the Lebanese Ambassador to Sudan of the evacuation of the 52 people who came yesterday from Khartoum on a bus at dawn today, Monday, April 24, 2023, from the city of Port Sudan on board a ship of the Royal Saudi Navy, and they are now on their way to the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants - Lebanon 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates announced that, under royal directives, four planes of the Royal Jordanian Air Force took off from Port Sudan International Airport in the Republic of Sudan, heading to Marka Military Airport in the capital, Amman, carrying 343 citizens from Members of the Jordanian community and nationals of our brothers in the State of Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and the friendly Republic of Germany.

Jordan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates 

China has begun to evacuate its nationals from Sudan, with the first batch already safely evacuated to a neighbouring country, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning said on Monday.

SOURCE 

The evacuation of Finns from Sudan has progressed well during the night. A total of 10 Finns have been evacuated. Among them are children. A few who asked for help are still in Khartoum, and efforts are being made to get them out. The situation is still difficult and dangerous.

Pekka Olavi Haavisto, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland 

Evacuation of Japanese nationals in Sudan has begun by moving some of the about 60 Japanese from Khartoum to another city by land, according to sources.

SOURCE 

1st group of 140 Turkish citizens currently being evacuated from #Sudan by road to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

From there will fly to #Turkiye. 2 other groups to be evacuated soon but embassy to stay open.

A further 500 Turks left Khartoum last night in a convoy of ten buses

SOURCE 

A total of 538 Indonesian citizens were successfully evacuated from Sudan. They left Sudan via Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and are been expected home shortly.

Retno Marsudi, Indonesian Foreign Minister 

A number of Ghanaian nationals, particularly students, have been affected by the conflict. Ghana's Honorary Consulate in Khartoum reports that all of our nationals are safe.

The Ghana Embassy in Cairo, Egypt which has concurrent accreditation to the Sudan, working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the Honorary Consulate are coordinating the evacuation of our nationals, and plans are currently underway to secure their
safe passage to Ethiopia.

Ghana has so far accounted for a total of 76 nationals including 73 who are students stuck in Sudan.

[url=https://mfa.gov.gh/]Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Republic of Ghana 

As part of our preparations, and in order to move swiftly, the Government of India is pursuing multiple options. Two Indian Air Force C-130J are currently positioned on standby in Jeddah. And, INS Sumedha has reached Port Sudan.

Contingency plans are in place but any movement on the ground would depend on the security situation, which continues to be volatile with reports of fierce fighting at various locations in Khartoum. Sudanese airspace currently remains closed for all foreign aircraft. Overland movement also has risks and logistical challenges.

Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs India 

The Libyan embassy in Sudan has announced the evacuation of 83 Libyans from Khartoum, including the Libyan diplomatic mission in Sudan, their families, Libyan students in the Sudanese arena, the staff of Afriqiyah Airways and employees of the Sahel and Sahara Bank.

SOURCE 

Latest number of verified SA nationals stuck in #Sudan is 77. They're all in a WhatsApp group with embassy staff (who are also still stuck there). Complaints of inconsistent/little/no communication from the team is noted. However, they've run out of diesel. There's no electricity & therefore poor network coverage. They've since found a way to recharge batteries & will update SA nationals regarding evacuation plans. Our security agencies are far advanced with the evacuation plan.

The airport is damaged & closed. Khartoum is effectively a no-fly zone. Intense fighting is continuing. All routes out of Khartoum remain dangerous & risky. The French convoy came under attack. SA government has explored all options & has settled on a particular plan. Coordination with the 77 SA nationals is underway. Our priority is to get everyone out. We understand the frustration & desperation. We'll keep you & everyone posted.

Clayson Monyela, South Africa's Head of Public Diplomacy 

We have been given the cost estimate and all the details. They gave us a figure of 5500 who are ready for evacuation. Obviously, what you need in a situation like this is a place where everybody can congregate before you start moving them out. Because the airports, as you pointed out in your report, it is out of commission. The only viable way out is by road.

But of course, it is not totally safe so you are going to require the government to provide some security and a safe corridor out.”, who said the stranded Nigerians may be transported from Sudan by road into Egypt, revealed that already Nigerian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt is making arrangements to receive.

But what they’ve been evacuating were actually their diplomatic staff. They haven’t been able to start evacuating their citizens there. We can’t evacuate all our diplomatic staff at the moment because they need to also coordinate the evacuation of all those students that we’re talking about --- Geoffrey Onyeama (Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister)

https://www.nairaland.com/7663900/fg-evacuate-5500-nigerians-stranded#122707103

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