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UK awaits German go-ahead to start evacuation from Sudan UK begins evacuating citizens from Sudan after Germany allows use of airfield
(about 2 hours later)
Defence secretary says RAF flights out will begin after Germany cedes control of airfield where it is conducting own rescue mission First RAF flight leaves amid ceasefire as Britain begins belated evacuation of 2,000 trapped nationals
The UK will begin evacuation flights for 2,000-plus Britons trapped in Sudan when Germany relinquishes temporary control of an airfield north of Khartoum from which it has been conducting its own rescue mission, the defence secretary said. The first British evacuation flight has left Sudan, Downing Street has said, after Germany gave permission for the UK to fly a rescue plane from an airfield north of Khartoum that it has been controlling to coordinate its own rescue from the country.
Ben Wallace, speaking at a defence select committee, would not give a precise time on when flights out would start, but said that an emergency processing centre at Wadi Seidna protected by 120 troops had been set up as of mid-morning. At least two more flights are expected to leave overnight, officials added, as Britain belatedly begins the airlift of more than 2,000 citizens trapped in Sudan after a 72-hour ceasefire was agreed by both sides with the help of the US.
RAF flights out would start “if and when the Germans leave”, Wallace told MPs, explaining that Germany’s military was “running the airfield at the moment” to complete its own evacuation process. Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, speaking at a defence select committee, had said that an emergency processing centre at the Wadi Seidna airbase, north of the capital and protected by 120 troops, had been set up as of mid-morning.
At that point he said RAF flights out would start “if and when the Germans leave”, explaining that Germany’s military was “running the airfield at the moment” to complete its own evacuation process.
However, the flight took off with Germans still securing the airbase, although preparations were in hand for UK forces to take over air traffic control if or when the Germans decide to move on.
A second evacuation point was likely to be set up at Port Sudan, on the country’s Red Sea coast, about 500 miles north east of Khartoum. Britain had deployed a contingent of Royal Marines there, Wallace said, and he said he had directed HMS Lancaster, a frigate, to sail there to facilitate a possible evacuation.
The idea was, he added, was to keep an alternative evacuation point “up our sleeve for contingencies” because “if the airbase were to close it would be one of the few options left”. Many people have made the 35-hour road journey to the city from Khartoum, scene of much of the fiercest fighting so far.
Britain decided to launch an evacuation of Britons and their immediate families overnight following the announcement of a US-brokered 72-hour ceasefire in the civil war that suddenly broke out on 15 April.Britain decided to launch an evacuation of Britons and their immediate families overnight following the announcement of a US-brokered 72-hour ceasefire in the civil war that suddenly broke out on 15 April.
The UK has come under criticism for appearing relatively slow to act. Although the UK evacuated embassy staff on Sunday, other countries such as France and Germany have airlifted other civilians from Wadi Seidna. The UK had come under criticism for appearing relatively slow to act. Although the UK evacuated embassy staff on Sunday, other countries such as France and Germany have airlifted other civilians from Wadi Seidna.
Germany has so far evacuated over 400 people from Sudan, including people from the UK, Ireland, Poland and the Czech Republic, conducting operations from the airbase from late on Sunday.Germany has so far evacuated over 400 people from Sudan, including people from the UK, Ireland, Poland and the Czech Republic, conducting operations from the airbase from late on Sunday.
Wallace said he could not give a timing for evacuation flights. “I can’t speculate on the Germans simply because they are responding to the condition of the flow of their citizens and their nationals,” Wallace said. It would depend on whether the number of Germans leaving would drop off, he indicated.Wallace said he could not give a timing for evacuation flights. “I can’t speculate on the Germans simply because they are responding to the condition of the flow of their citizens and their nationals,” Wallace said. It would depend on whether the number of Germans leaving would drop off, he indicated.
Wallace said ministers were discussing the crisis again at 3pm on Tuesday at a Cobra meeting, the committee system used to discuss emergencies.Wallace said ministers were discussing the crisis again at 3pm on Tuesday at a Cobra meeting, the committee system used to discuss emergencies.
At 1pm UK time, the Foreign Office told Britons and their immediate families to head to the airfield, supplying its GPS coordinates in an official announcement shared on social media, although with phone and internet connection intermittent it is unclear how far the message will have got through.
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At 1pm UK time, the Foreign Office told Britons and their immediate families to head to the airfield, supplying its GPS coordinates in an official announcement shared on social media, although with phone and internet connection intermittent it is unclear how far the message will have got through.
Aid agencies operating in Sudan said that the 72-hour ceasefire between the army and RSF paramilitaries appeared to be largely holding, but Britons in the country said they were concerned about the risks of making the journey.Aid agencies operating in Sudan said that the 72-hour ceasefire between the army and RSF paramilitaries appeared to be largely holding, but Britons in the country said they were concerned about the risks of making the journey.
Photographs released by the Ministry of Defence showed Royal Marines boarding a Hercules transport aircraft at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in the morning as part of the group of soldiers and officials helping set up on the ground.Photographs released by the Ministry of Defence showed Royal Marines boarding a Hercules transport aircraft at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in the morning as part of the group of soldiers and officials helping set up on the ground.
Once the RAF is ready to depart they will make the four- to five-hour journey back to Cyprus before being flown on to the UK. Only British passport holders are eligible for evacuation, plus their spouses and children under 18, as long as they too have the right to enter the UK.Once the RAF is ready to depart they will make the four- to five-hour journey back to Cyprus before being flown on to the UK. Only British passport holders are eligible for evacuation, plus their spouses and children under 18, as long as they too have the right to enter the UK.
Priority would be given to family groups with children, elderly people and individuals with medical conditions, the Foreign Office added. Priority would be given to family groups with children, elderly people and individuals with medical conditions, the Foreign Office added. It is unclear how many people will be on each flight, but the total evacuation is likely to run into hundreds.