Foreign states start evacuations from Sudan as battle rages

Khartoum (Reuters) – Some foreigners began evacuating from Sudan’s Red Sea ports on Saturday. Hundreds of civilians have been killed across the country in week-long fighting between rival commanders, even as airstrikes rock the capital Khartoum again.

A bloody onslaught of urban warfare has trapped many in the Sudan capital. Airports have been targeted repeatedly, and many residents are unable to leave their homes or reach safety from the city.

The United Nations and other nations will honor the largely ignored declared truce against rival military leaders, opening a safe passage for both fleeing civilians and the supply of urgently needed aid. I am urging you to

Thousands of foreigners, including embassy staff, aid workers and students, are unable to get out in Khartoum and elsewhere in Africa’s third-largest country as airports are closed and skies are dangerous. .

Saudi Arabia has evacuated Gulf citizens from Port Sudan on the Red Sea, 400 miles (650 km) from Khartoum. Jordan uses the same route for its own citizens.

Western countries are expected to send flights from Djibouti for civilians, but the Sudanese military said there were problems with airports in Khartoum and Darfur’s largest city Nyala and it was not clear when that would be possible. Says.

A foreign diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some diplomats in Khartoum hoped to fly out of Port Sudan within the next two days. The U.S. embassy warned Americans that they could not assist the convoy from Khartoum to Port Sudan and that travel was at their own risk.

The forces under Abdel Fatt al-Burhan and the rival Rapid Relief Force (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedoti, have so far since hostilities erupted on April 15. Almost every day we fail to comply with the agreed ceasefires.

Saturday’s fighting violated the intended three-day truce from Friday to allow citizens to reach safely and visit their families during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Both sides accused the other of not respecting the ceasefire.

bombardment

Any pause in Saturday’s fighting could accelerate the desperate flight of many Khartoum residents. After being bombed and trapped in their homes and rural areas for days with fighters roaming the streets.

Residents of Khartoum and neighboring sister cities Omdurman and Bari reported air strikes and fighting near the state broadcaster on Saturday.

Residents of Bari said they had no water or electricity for a week, and frequent airstrikes. “We are waiting for a big fight. We are afraid of what will happen,” he said.

Live television broadcasts showed huge clouds of black smoke rising from Khartoum airport and the sound of gunfire and the roar of artillery.

“These scary planes are back.

The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) appealed for safe passage. Abdallah Hussain, operations manager for MSF Sudan, said: “We need trauma specialists and customs clearance that can carry medical supplies.

Sudan’s doctors’ union said on Saturday that more than two-thirds of hospitals in the conflict area were out of service, with 32 hospitals either forcibly evacuated by soldiers or caught in a crossfire.

Beyond Khartoum, the worst reports of violence come from Darfur, a western desert region that borders Chad. Darfur has suffered a war since 2003 that has resulted in 300,000 deaths and her 2.7 million displaced people, and continues after a subsequent peace deal.

Looters took at least 10 World Food Program vehicles and six food trucks after they overran the World Food Program offices and warehouse in Nyala, South Darfur, according to a UN update on Saturday. rice field.

sudden collapse

Sudan’s sudden collapse into war has dashed plans to restore civil rule, pushed an already impoverished country to the brink of humanitarian catastrophe, and threatened a wider conflict that could involve outside forces. .

There is as yet no indication that either side of the deadly power struggle can secure a quick victory or is ready to speak. .

But Barhan said on Saturday, “We all need to sit down as Sudanese and find the right path to restore hope and life.”

Hemedti’s brother, Abdulrahim Hamdan Dagalo, RSF deputy commander, said in a video that his forces should attack the army “everywhere”.

After the 2021 coup, Barhan and Hemeti held the top two seats in the ruling council, which was intended to hand over to civilian government and integrate the RSF into the military.

The World Health Organization reported Friday that 413 people have been killed and 3,551 injured since fighting began. person is included.

Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz from Khartoum and Nafisa Eltahir from Cairo Writing by Angus McDowall Editing by Frances Kerry

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