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| Sudan: Over 300 evacuated on British rescue flights | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An RAF plane has been used to evacuate British nationals from Sudan | |
| More than 300 people have been brought to safety from conflict-hit Sudan as part of the British evacuation mission. | |
| Four evacuation flights carrying 301 passengers have departed Khartoum, Downing Street said, with eight flights expected by the end of Wednesday. | |
| British troops are attempting to get UK nationals out of the east African country during a 72-hour ceasefire. | British troops are attempting to get UK nationals out of the east African country during a 72-hour ceasefire. |
| They are first being flown to Larnaca Airport in Cyprus, where their documentation is checked. | |
| The first onward flight to the UK, carrying about 250 people, departed Larnaca Airport on Wednesday morning. | |
| The prime minister's official spokesman said the "majority" of those on board the rescue flights are British nationals, but also include some allies' citizens. | |
| "We're calling everyone forward and we have no issue with capacity, and people are being processed smoothly," he said, adding those travelling to the airport were not having significant issues. | |
| Trapped British nationals had been told to make their own way to an airstrip near Sudanese capital Khartoum, once it was clear the ceasefire that began at midnight local time (22:00 GMT) on Monday was holding. | Trapped British nationals had been told to make their own way to an airstrip near Sudanese capital Khartoum, once it was clear the ceasefire that began at midnight local time (22:00 GMT) on Monday was holding. |
| Warring sides agree to ceasefire in Sudan | Warring sides agree to ceasefire in Sudan |
| UK citizens tell of attempts to escape Sudan | UK citizens tell of attempts to escape Sudan |
| 'Snipers mean we can't get to Sudan escape flight' | 'Snipers mean we can't get to Sudan escape flight' |
| What is going on in Sudan? A simple guide | What is going on in Sudan? A simple guide |
| An RAF military plane is being used to pick up British passport holders from the airstrip and fly them to Larnaca Airport. The RAF plane then refuels, before returning to Sudan to pick up the next batch waiting at the airstrip. | |
| The Foreign Office said its aim is for evacuees to be in Cyprus for less than 48 hours before they can take up the option of flying to the UK. | The Foreign Office said its aim is for evacuees to be in Cyprus for less than 48 hours before they can take up the option of flying to the UK. |
| Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons on Wednesday the UK "will continue to work to end the bloodshed in Sudan and support a democratic government"."We have begun a large-scale evacuation of British nationals and I pay tribute to all those carrying out this complex operation," he said. | Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons on Wednesday the UK "will continue to work to end the bloodshed in Sudan and support a democratic government"."We have begun a large-scale evacuation of British nationals and I pay tribute to all those carrying out this complex operation," he said. |
| Watch: 'I hoped UK would save us, but I gave up' - Glasgow family share story of perilous journey from Sudan | Watch: 'I hoped UK would save us, but I gave up' - Glasgow family share story of perilous journey from Sudan |
| Watch: 'I hoped UK would save us, but I gave up' - Glasgow family share story of perilous journey from Sudan | Watch: 'I hoped UK would save us, but I gave up' - Glasgow family share story of perilous journey from Sudan |
| Among the first group of evacuees to arrive in Cyprus were families with young children, some of them newborns, who were greeted by the Cypriot Red Cross which provided food and toiletries. | Among the first group of evacuees to arrive in Cyprus were families with young children, some of them newborns, who were greeted by the Cypriot Red Cross which provided food and toiletries. |
| They have spent the night in Larnaca and will travel to London on a charter flight set to depart in the morning. | They have spent the night in Larnaca and will travel to London on a charter flight set to depart in the morning. |
| Speaking to the BBC at Larnaca Airport, passengers said they were delighted to be going home, but reaching the flight had been difficult because of limited UK government help. | Speaking to the BBC at Larnaca Airport, passengers said they were delighted to be going home, but reaching the flight had been difficult because of limited UK government help. |
| One man said he had to take a bus with his young family and had never been so scared. | One man said he had to take a bus with his young family and had never been so scared. |
| Yahya Yahya told the BBC it was "a very difficult time" and he was "thankful that we've finally made it to a safe place". | Yahya Yahya told the BBC it was "a very difficult time" and he was "thankful that we've finally made it to a safe place". |
| Watch: Fleeing Sudan - first Britons to leave Cyprus for UK soil | Watch: Fleeing Sudan - first Britons to leave Cyprus for UK soil |
| Watch: Fleeing Sudan - first Britons to leave Cyprus for UK soil | Watch: Fleeing Sudan - first Britons to leave Cyprus for UK soil |
| "The first day that the war started [I tried to leave the country], because I wanted to try and get my kids to a safe place," he said. | "The first day that the war started [I tried to leave the country], because I wanted to try and get my kids to a safe place," he said. |
| A British man whose sister managed to be evacuated overnight told the BBC she felt an overwhelming sense of relief to have managed to escape a city where food and water have become scarce because it is not safe for people to leave their homes. | A British man whose sister managed to be evacuated overnight told the BBC she felt an overwhelming sense of relief to have managed to escape a city where food and water have become scarce because it is not safe for people to leave their homes. |
| He said at one point she and 13 others had only four dates and one egg left to share between them. | He said at one point she and 13 others had only four dates and one egg left to share between them. |
| UK nationals arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday morning on their way back to the UK | UK nationals arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday morning on their way back to the UK |
| It is not clear why more British passport holders have not been on the flights so far, but we know of one NHS doctor who is visiting an elderly mother, who herself doesn't have a UK visa so there is a reluctance to leave her behind. | It is not clear why more British passport holders have not been on the flights so far, but we know of one NHS doctor who is visiting an elderly mother, who herself doesn't have a UK visa so there is a reluctance to leave her behind. |
| On BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, Swansea-based Saleh El-Khalifa said his mother, who is a British citizen, aunt and elderly grandfather had made their way to Port Sudan, and contact from the Foreign Office had been "minimal". | On BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, Swansea-based Saleh El-Khalifa said his mother, who is a British citizen, aunt and elderly grandfather had made their way to Port Sudan, and contact from the Foreign Office had been "minimal". |
| He said the "timeframe" to reach the evacuation flight "would have made it almost impossible" for his mother to make it, and she was instead trying to reach Saudi Arabia and travel to the UK from there. | He said the "timeframe" to reach the evacuation flight "would have made it almost impossible" for his mother to make it, and she was instead trying to reach Saudi Arabia and travel to the UK from there. |
| Fleeing Britons travel onward | Fleeing Britons travel onward |
| By Europe Correspondent Nick Beake, in Larnaca Airport | By Europe Correspondent Nick Beake, in Larnaca Airport |
| At gate 18 of Larnaca airport - like most departures lounges the world over - excited children ran up and down the corridor. | At gate 18 of Larnaca airport - like most departures lounges the world over - excited children ran up and down the corridor. |
| But these young Britons had just escaped war after a terrifying time in Sudan. | But these young Britons had just escaped war after a terrifying time in Sudan. |
| Their parents dragged along the floor whatever luggage they had been able to take with them from their homes in the capital Khartoum before running the gauntlet through the streets to the designated British pick-up point for the flights out. | Their parents dragged along the floor whatever luggage they had been able to take with them from their homes in the capital Khartoum before running the gauntlet through the streets to the designated British pick-up point for the flights out. |
| The elderly were put in wheelchairs before being taken out to the tarmac. | The elderly were put in wheelchairs before being taken out to the tarmac. |
| I saw families embrace British government staff, wearing blue polo shirts with the Union flag on the sleeve, before handing over their travel documents to Cypriot officials. | I saw families embrace British government staff, wearing blue polo shirts with the Union flag on the sleeve, before handing over their travel documents to Cypriot officials. |
| Moments later, the first departure fight left. | Moments later, the first departure fight left. |
| Onboard, Britons now heading for the safety of the UK. | Onboard, Britons now heading for the safety of the UK. |
| But many have had to leave behind relatives who do not have British passports or visas. | But many have had to leave behind relatives who do not have British passports or visas. |
| Around 120 British troops are supporting the evacuation at the Wadi Saeedna airstrip. Downing Street said the British military will defend the airfield in Sudan but clarified efforts would be made to avoid "active engagement" with other forces. | Around 120 British troops are supporting the evacuation at the Wadi Saeedna airstrip. Downing Street said the British military will defend the airfield in Sudan but clarified efforts would be made to avoid "active engagement" with other forces. |
| Clashes between the Sudanese army and paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began on 15 April. Hundreds of people have since died and thousands have been injured in the conflict. | Clashes between the Sudanese army and paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began on 15 April. Hundreds of people have since died and thousands have been injured in the conflict. |
| Airlifting large numbers of people out of Sudan has been complicated by major airports becoming battlegrounds, and movement out of the capital has been perilous. | Airlifting large numbers of people out of Sudan has been complicated by major airports becoming battlegrounds, and movement out of the capital has been perilous. |
| Young children were among the British nationals to arrive at Lanarca International Airport | Young children were among the British nationals to arrive at Lanarca International Airport |
| Defence Secretary Ben Wallace previously told LBC Radio there was "some risk that some of the planes are not full" as there were "not thousands at the gate" like the evacuation from Afghanistan two years ago. | Defence Secretary Ben Wallace previously told LBC Radio there was "some risk that some of the planes are not full" as there were "not thousands at the gate" like the evacuation from Afghanistan two years ago. |
| The government is also considering a seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. | The government is also considering a seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. |
| A relative of a British-Sudanese elderly couple told BBC Radio 4's World Tonight that the couple risked getting shot if they leave the house, but risk starving if they stay. | A relative of a British-Sudanese elderly couple told BBC Radio 4's World Tonight that the couple risked getting shot if they leave the house, but risk starving if they stay. |
| Yasmin Sholgami, from west London, said it was 10 days since she had managed to speak with her grandparents, who live opposite the British Embassy in the Sudanese capital. | Yasmin Sholgami, from west London, said it was 10 days since she had managed to speak with her grandparents, who live opposite the British Embassy in the Sudanese capital. |
| She said when she last spoke to her British national grandfather, 89, and grandmother, 75 and his spouse, they did not have food, water or electricity. | She said when she last spoke to her British national grandfather, 89, and grandmother, 75 and his spouse, they did not have food, water or electricity. |
| She described where they live as a "hotpot for fighting" and it would be "impossible for her grandparents to move". | She described where they live as a "hotpot for fighting" and it would be "impossible for her grandparents to move". |
| More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the Foreign Office. | More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the Foreign Office. |
| Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, are being prioritised for the flights. | Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, are being prioritised for the flights. |
| Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible for the evacuation flights. | Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible for the evacuation flights. |
| On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited the Foreign Office's crisis centre in London, which is overseeing the evacuation efforts. He told staff that "the next 24 hours are absolutely critical". | On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited the Foreign Office's crisis centre in London, which is overseeing the evacuation efforts. He told staff that "the next 24 hours are absolutely critical". |
| Speaking to the media, he added: "The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective." | Speaking to the media, he added: "The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective." |
| Are you a British national who has been evacuated from Sudan? Are you still inside the country? If it is safe to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a British national who has been evacuated from Sudan? Are you still inside the country? If it is safe to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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