The UK government has completed its evacuation efforts in Sudan, having evacuated a total of 1,888 people on 21 flights. The majority of those evacuated were British nationals and their dependents. The Foreign Office has said that the evacuation of British nationals and some NHS doctors without UK passports was the largest of any Western nation from the country. Those who could not fly are now seeking refuge by crossing Sudan’s land borders.
Continued Conflict
Despite a ceasefire that was to last until midnight on Sunday, residents in parts of the capital city, Khartoum, have reported gunfire and heavy artillery. The civilian death toll has risen to 411, with 2,023 injuries reported, according to the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate. More than 50,000 Sudanese refugees, mostly women and children, have crossed over into Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic since the crisis began.
Regional Instability
The UN has warned that the diaspora risks raising regional instability, with South Sudan and the Central African Republic already scarred by years of ethnic fighting and turmoil. Chad’s democratic transition has also been derailed by a 2021 coup. Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has said the conflict must stop and warned of the consequences not just in Sudan but for the region.
UK Government Commitment
The UK government has said it remains committed to supporting British nationals who remain in Sudan. Its focus will now turn to providing consular support to British nationals in Port Sudan and neighbouring countries in the region. Airlifts have also faced challenges, with a Turkish evacuation plane hit by gunfire outside of Khartoum on Friday. Civilians sheltering at home amid the conflict have warned they are running out of food and basic supplies.
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