…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
Thousands of British nationals and dual nationals are scrambling to escape Sudan as reports of sniper fire on some roads surface.
A third RAF evacuation flight landed in Cyprus on Wednesday morning with at least three more planned in the day, and the first flight carrying British nationals landed at Stansted Airport on Wednesday afternoon.
But Britons and dual nationals on the ground described making “perilous” trips to safety on their own, struggling to travel to the airfield north of Khartoum where evacuation flights are taking place before a 72-hour ceasefire ends.
Slow Response
Criticism of the Government’s “slow” response to the crisis is growing.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said between 200 and 300 British nationals had already been taken out of the country in three rescue missions.
However, Chair of the Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood, said he had heard from one of his constituents who had to make her own “perilous journey” to Port Sudan.
He called for the UK embassy to be moved to Port Sudan on the Red Sea in a show of support.
Perilous Journey
British charity worker Yasmin Sholgami said her grandparents are stranded in Khartoum without food and water.
Despite the apparent ceasefire between the army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the couple has reported gunfire and shelling.
British citizen Wathig Ali said he had been trying to flee Khartoum with his pregnant wife and their six-year-old son.
British military and diplomatic chiefs are understood to be planning at least three more flights out of the country today as the first evacuees were expected to arrive in London.
UK Support
More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the Foreign Office.
British warship, HMS Lancaster, was also set to arrive off the coast of Sudan with RFA Cardigan Bay.
Port Sudan could be used for evacuations if the 72-hour ceasefire between warring factions in Sudan collapses and prevents evacuation flights.
It could also later be used to bring in supplies to tackle a feared humanitarian crisis.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation there.
Germany’s approach
Announcing the completion of Germany’s evacuation efforts, the country’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians “to their own devices”, in an apparent swipe at the UK’s approach.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was “right” that diplomats were prioritised “because they were being targeted”.
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