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Sudan: Evacuation flight carrying Britons arrives in UK Sudan: Evacuation flight carrying Britons arrives in UK
(about 2 hours later)
UK evacuation plane lands at Stansted Watch: British nationals board UK military plane to be evacuated from Sudan
UK evacuation plane lands at Stansted Watch: British nationals board UK military plane to be evacuated from Sudan
The first flight carrying British nationals escaping conflict-hit Sudan has landed in the UK.The first flight carrying British nationals escaping conflict-hit Sudan has landed in the UK.
The flight from Larnaca Airport in Cyprus, where those fleeing were first brought, arrived at Stansted Airport at about 14:25 BST on Wednesday. The flight carrying 250 people from Larnaca Airport in Cyprus arrived at Stansted Airport on Wednesday.
British troops are attempting to get UK nationals out of the east African country during a 72-hour ceasefire. British troops are organising the evacuation from the east African country, under cover of aceasefire which is due to end at midnight on Thursday.
A total of eight evacuation flights are expected to leave Khartoum by the end of Wednesday. Eight flights are expected to leave Khartoum by the end of Wednesday.
Documentation checks on those on board were carried out in Cyprus, before the onward journey to the UK. The government has faced some criticism over the speed of the evacuations.
The first onward flight to the UK is carrying about 250 people. Trapped British nationals have been making their own way to an airstrip near the Sudanese capital Khartoum to get on the RAF military flight.
The prime minister's official spokesman said the "majority" of those on board the rescue flights were British nationals, but also included 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 the Sudanese capital Khartoum, once it was clear the ceasefire that began at midnight local time (22:00 GMT) on Monday was holding.
More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the Foreign Office.
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What is going on in Sudan? A simple guideWhat 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. Home Secretary Suella Braverman sent reassurances that the government would be supporting British nationals and their dependents in the "fast moving and complex situation".
The Foreign Office said its aim was for evacuees to be in Cyprus for less than 48 hours before taking up the option of flying to the UK. But she added there were no plans to introduce a legal route for people fleeing Sudan to claim asylum in the UK.
But the BBC has since learned the airstrip being used for evacuations from Sudan is beginning to break up. There has been concern over whether the runway at the Khartoum airstrip will hold up over the next couple of days.
This is due to the sheer number of aircraft taking off and landing damaging the surface, according to a well-placed source. The BBC has learned from a well-placed source that it is beginning to break up - the sheer numbers of aircraft taking off and landing are damaging the surface.
There are concerns about how long the airstrip can continue to be used safely for evacuations over the next couple of days. If flights are no longer possible, people may then have to take the potential alternative route to Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast for a possible seaborne evacuation.
If not, people might then have to take the potential alternative route to Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast for a possible seaborne evacuation.
Government sources said they were aware of the issue with the runway and were confident it would not be a limiting factor in the flights.Government sources said they were aware of the issue with the runway and were confident it would not be a limiting factor in the flights.
Watch: 'I hoped UK would save us, but I gave up' - Glasgow family share story of perilous journey from Sudan Watch: Fleeing Sudan - first Britons to leave Cyprus for UK soil
Watch: 'I hoped UK would save us, but I gave up' - Glasgow family share story of perilous journey from Sudan Watch: Fleeing Sudan - first Britons to leave Cyprus for UK soil
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. British nationals who were trying to get family members without UK visas on planes may have been concerned to hear that the aircraft had been leaving Sudan with empty seats.
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. But Brigadier Dan Reeve, the most senior military official overseeing the evacuation, said it was the Foreign Office not the military deciding who was eligible to get on flights.
He also defended the decision not to escort people to the airport, even though some other countries have done this with their nationals.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: "In my professional judgement it would not be safe to bring people together in one location in Khartoum and seek to extract them.
"We've seen incidents of convoys being attacked."
Brig Reeve further explained he thought there had been a "good rate of flow" so far, adding the plan was move about 500 people a day on five aircraft.
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
A British man whose sister managed to be evacuated overnight told the BBC she felt an overwhelming sense of relief to have escaped.A British man whose sister managed to be evacuated overnight told the BBC she felt an overwhelming sense of relief to have escaped.
He said at one point she and 13 others had only four dates and one egg left to share between them because it was not safe for them to go out to look for food.He said at one point she and 13 others had only four dates and one egg left to share between them because it was not safe for them to go out to look for food.
UK nationals arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday morning on their way back to the UKUK 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 some appear reluctant to leave relatives without UK visas behind. Around 120 British troops are supporting the evacuation at the Wadi Saeedna airstrip. Downing Street said the British military would defend the airfield in Sudan but clarified efforts would be made to avoid "active engagement" with other forces.
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". Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's official spokesman said the "majority" of those on board the rescue flights were British nationals, but also included some allies' citizens.
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. "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.
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. Mr Sunak also told the House of Commons on Wednesday the UK "will continue to work to end the bloodshed in Sudan and support a democratic government"."I pay tribute to all those carrying out this complex operation," he said.
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 Larnaca International AirportYoung children were among the British nationals to arrive at Larnaca International Airport
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.
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, Mr 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". Additional reporting by Rachel Russell.
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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