Sudan Update: Countries engaged in evacuating their people from Sudan, Egyptian diplomat shot, more than 400 dead so far – sudan civil war many countries are trying to evacuate diplomats and citizens trapped in sudan
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“We have not seen a ceasefire like this,” said Amin al-Tayed, who lives in a building near the state television headquarters in Omdurman. He said there was heavy firing and the city was rocked by explosions. Thick black smoke hung over the airport in Khartoum. The paramilitary claimed the army carried out airstrikes in Kafouri, north of Khartoum, amid fighting with Sudanese military forces. At present, the army has not commented on this. US special forces airlifted 70 US embassy staff from Khartoum to an undisclosed location in Ethiopia early Sunday, despite a halt to rescue operations after a week of bloody fighting.
it is dangerous for citizens to leave
However, US officials said it was still too dangerous for the government to carry out a coordinated mass evacuation of civilians. Other countries are also struggling to evacuate their citizens and diplomats. France, Greece and other European countries said on Sunday they were launching evacuation operations for some citizens of allied countries as well as embassy staff and citizens. French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said France was carrying out the operation with the help of European partners.
These countries evacuated their citizens
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said the country has sent aircraft and special forces to Egypt in preparation for the evacuation of 120 Greek and Cypriot citizens from Khartoum. He said most people had taken refuge in a church in Khartoum. The Netherlands has also sent two planes to Jordan. Italy has sent its military aircraft to Djibouti to evacuate 140 of its citizens from Sudan. The country’s main international airport was targeted in clashes between Sudan’s military forces and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Force.
Several aircraft were damaged as operations were halted and at least one runway was destroyed. Operations from other airports of the country have also come to a standstill. Evacuation by land route is also dangerous due to the conflict. Khartoum, the Red Sea port is about 840 kilometers from Sudan. However, amidst all the dangers, some countries are conducting evacuation operations. Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that the country successfully evacuated 157 people, including 91 Saudi citizens and citizens of other countries. Saudi Arabian state TV released footage of a large convoy of Saudis and other foreign nationals traveling by car and bus from Khartoum to Port Sudan. These people were transported by naval ships across the Red Sea to the Saudi port of Jeddah.
Egyptian diplomat injured
The power struggle between Sudan’s military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the ‘Rapid Support Force’, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagallo, has dealt a blow to Sudan’s hopes for democratic transition. More than 400 people, including 264 civilians, have been killed and more than 3,500 injured in the conflict. Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said without giving further details that an Egyptian diplomat was wounded in Sudan on Sunday after being shot. Many wounded were trapped in the fighting, according to the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate, which monitors casualties. The organization said the number of casualties could be much higher. Atia Abdalla Atia, secretary of the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate, said: “Khartoum looks deserted. About half the population has left the city and the rest are looking for a way out.” The conflict has left millions of people locked in homes without enough electricity, food or water.
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