…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
Initially, the UK Government rejected calls to evacuate NHS workers stranded in Sudan who do not hold British passports.
This decision was based on concerns about the limited capacity of flights, as well as the possibility of the Sudanese armed forces refusing safe passage to individuals without Sudanese passports.
Additionally, the government was worried that the decision would set a precedent for future crises around the world.
However, the criteria have been expanded to allow all UK residents without passports to board an evacuation flight.
The UK has already evacuated over 1,500 people from Sudan in what Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden describes as “the longest and largest evacuation of any Western country”.
The government has set a deadline for anyone wishing to be evacuated to travel to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near Khartoum by 11 am BST on Saturday.
Mr. Dowden said that within the next 24 hours, the flights would cease, and the remaining British nationals would have the next 24 hours to make their way to the airport.
The decision to not allow people living in the UK but without British passports to take the flights operated by the UK military initially drew criticism from the public.
Many were unhappy that NHS doctors and other workers were left stranded in Sudan during a time of crisis.
The decision to expand the criteria to allow all UK residents without passports to board the evacuation flights is a step in the right direction.
It is important to evacuate everyone who needs help during a crisis, regardless of their nationality.
This decision highlights the UK’s commitment to protecting its citizens and residents, regardless of their background.