Sudan – live: Final evacuation flight for fleeing Britons leaves as violence resumes
More than 800,000 people could flee the war-torn country, UN official warns
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The final evacuation flight for British nationls has now left Sudan as a fragile ceasefire holds in the country.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) had given those looking to flee the war-torn nation until 11am UK time - midday in Sudan - to reach the departure site on the eastern coast.
Officials at the Foreign Office would not confirm what time the flight was due to take off, but flight tracking websites showed a Royal Air Force (RAF) Airbus A400M Atlas plane as having landed at Port Sudan at about 3pm on Monday.
The UK government said it was “exceptionally” offering one final flight for a limited number of British nationals still in the country.
It comes as a UN official said more than 800,000 people may flee the war-torn country.
The UN Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Raouf Mazou, said: “In consultation with all concerned governments and partners we’ve arrived at a planning figure of 815,000 people that may flee into the seven neighboring countries.”
Britons have until midday to reach Port Sudan as UK relocates evacuation efforts
Fighting escalates in Sudan despite extended ceasefire as thousands more flee
UK to continue Sudan rescue operation with flight from Port Sudan
Last UK flight leaves Sudan as evacuation mission ends amid faltering ceasefire
209 Irish citizens and dependents evacuated from Sudan in total
A further 89 Irish citizens and their dependents have been evacuated from Sudan, bringing the total Irish evacuees to 209, the Department of Foreign Affairs has said.
The majority of Irish citizens evacuated by air in recent days have been carried on UK flights into Cyprus, the department said.
The UK Government had said its final flight departed from Wadi Saeedna airfield late on Saturday night.
It comes as a ceasefire in the conflict-stricken north African country appeared to falter, with residents reporting heavy explosions and gunfire breaking out again in the capital Khartoum despite the extension of the armistice between the country’s two warring generals.
Hundreds of people have died in the bloody conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces.
Micheal Martin, the Irish deputy premier and Foreign Affairs Minister, said Ireland’s Emergency Civil Assistance Team (Ecat) operation in Cyprus and Djibouti is now to be withdrawn.
The mission, named Operation Piccolo, has involved Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials being stationed in the countries with the aim of assisting in the evacuation.
Ireland has also received help from France and Spain to airlift Irish citizens, residents and visa holders to safety.
Members of the Defence Forces’ Special Operations Forces unit and the Army Ranger Wing supported the operation.
“On deployment, the team secured the DFA personnel on the ground, liaised with key actors in the airport and assisted DFA in the processing and evacuation of identified Irish citizens/dependents,” the Defence Forces said in a statement.
“The team were also on standby to provide medical assistance if required.”
Ireland will now maintain an “enhanced multi-location consular presence” for citizens who remain in Sudan - operating from Dublin, Nairobi, Cairo, Amman, Riyadh and Addis Ababa.
The department said embassies remain in close contact with any citizens in Sudan who have requested assistance.
“I wish to thank the ECAT team and all those involved in our consular response,” Mr Martin said.
“Our primary aim has been to offer our citizens every assistance through what has been an extremely difficult and challenging time.
“Our experienced consular teams in Dublin and in the region will continue to actively respond to the needs of our citizens as the situation evolves.
“I would like to thank our EU partners, the UK, Jordan, Norway and Djibouti for their strong cooperation in this challenging mission,” the Tanaiste added.
Citizens have been urged to follow the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya on Twitter (IrlEmbKenya) for updated advice.
In pictures: Saudi nationals are hoisted aboard evacuation vessel
Saudi naval and special forces are pictured hoisting evacuees aboard a vessel during a rescue operation from Port Sudan to Jeddah.
Heavy fighting again rocked Sudan’s capital as tens of thousands have fled the bloody turmoil and a former prime minister warned of the “nightmare” risk of a descent into full-scale civil war.
Army forces clashed with paramilitaries in Khartoum as deadly hostilities have entered a third week despite the latest ceasefire, which was formally set to expire at the end of the day.
UK arranges extra evacuation flight
Britain has arranged an extra evacuation flight from Port Sudan in eastern Sudan which will depart on Monday, the government said on Sunday, adding that it has evacuated 2,122 people so far from the country.
The government confirmed that it was no longer running evacuation flights from Wadi Saeedna airfield, near Khartoum, due to a decline in demand by British nationals, and as the situation on the ground remains volatile.
“Our rescue efforts continue from Port Sudan. We continue to do everything in our power to secure a long-term ceasefire, a stable transition to civilian rule and an to end the violence in Sudan,” foreign minister James Cleverly said in the statement.
Foreign secretary gives thanks
The foreign secretary has given thanks to those involved in the rescue mission as the UK redirects its focus.
"The UK has now airlifted [more than] 2,100 people to safety from Sudan in what has been the largest and longest evacuation of any Western country,” James Cleverly said.
"I want to thank all of those working to deliver this evacuation and ensure as many people as possible are brought to safety.
"Evacuation flights have ended from Wadi Saeedna but our rescue efforts continue from Port Sudan."
In pictures: Sudan round-up, April 30, 2023
Full story: UK to continue Sudan rescue operation with flight from Port Sudan
The UK will run a flight from Port Sudan as it continues its evacuation mission after officially ceasing the operation from an airfield near Khartoum, the Government has said.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said rescue efforts, which were previously focused on the Wadi Saeedna site near the Sudanese capital, would be moved to the east of the nation.
Read Nina Lloyd’s full story here.
Central bank ‘engulfed in flames’
Footage is circulating online of what is said to be the Central Bank of Sudan in Khartoum on fire.
The pictures follow airstrikes as fighting continues between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
@sentdefender shared the video on Twitter and it has now been retweeted hundreds of times.
What is happening in Sudan and why? The war and conflict explained
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.
More than 450 people have been killed in the conflict and another 4,000 wounded so far, according to the World Health Organisation.
Read Joe Sommerlad’s full explainer here.
Round-up: Stories of the day, Sunday, April 30
Here are some of the headlines from Sunday, April 30 as the attacks in Sudan continue.
The UK will run a flight from Port Sudan as it continues its evacuation mission after officially ceasing the operation from an airfield near Khartoum, the Government has said.
An aircraft carrying eight tons of emergency medical supplies has landed in Sudan to help hospitals devastated by more than two weeks of fighting between forces loyal to rival generals.
More evacuees from Sudan are expected to arrive in Jeddah, after fleeing the conflict before the country’s ceasefire ends.
Canada ends Sudan evacuation flights amid dangerous conditions
Canada has ended its operation evacuating people from the Wadi Seidna airfield, near Khartoum, in Sudan due to the dangerous and volatile conditions on the ground, Defence Minister Anita Anand said on Sunday.
"Because of the dangerous conditions, and in concert with decisions made by our allies, no further Canadian flights are planned from the Wadi Seidna airfield," Anand told a news conference.
Sudan's rival military forces accused each other of fresh violations of a ceasefire that is set to expire on Sunday as their deadly conflict continued for a third week despite warnings of a slide towards catastrophic civil war.
There remain in Sudan roughly 230 Canadian affected persons seeking assistance and information through Global Affairs Canada, Anand said.
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