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Cleverly: UK can’t guarantee Sudan airlift will carry on after ceasefire end UK says nearly 900 evacuated from Sudan amid fears over further flights
(about 2 hours later)
Foreign secretary says Britain will try to keep flights going as Tory MP presses him over fate of Britons’ Sudanese parentsForeign secretary says Britain will try to keep flights going as Tory MP presses him over fate of Britons’ Sudanese parents
The foreign secretary has said the UK cannot guarantee evacuation flights from Sudan will continue into Friday, but has come under pressure over the refusal to allow Britons in the country to take elderly parents with them. Britain said it had evacuated nearly 900 people from Sudan and was hoping to continue evacuation flights overnight after the three-day ceasefire agreed by the country’s warring parties was due to expire.
James Cleverly told MPs on Thursday afternoon that the UK would endeavour to keep the airlift going after the ceasefire is due to end at midnight local time, although he said he could not guarantee this, and continued to advise Britons to leave immediately. But the foreign secretary came under pressure over a refusal to allow Britons trying to flee the fighting to take elderly parents with them, amid fears that renewed fighting between the army and paramilitaries could halt the airlift at any time.
The Conservative MP Alicia Kearns called on Cleverly to relax the evacuation requirements to allow Britons to take their Sudanese parents with them, amid reports that some were refusing to leave infirm mothers or fathers behind. James Cleverly told MPs on Thursday that the UK “will endeavour” to keep their airlift going, but he advised Britons to try to make the risky journey to the airfield north of Khartoum from where flights were leaving immediately.
“Children we treat as dependants but very elderly sick parents should also be treated as dependants”, said Kearns, the chair of the foreign affairs select committee, adding it was not clear whether the Home Office or the Foreign Office was determining the criteria. A total of 897 people had been evacuated by the RAF by 6pm Thursday, with two more flights leaving Sudan for a stopover in Cyprus during the day. The Foreign Office said that “further flights” would be coming.
But a senior Conservative called on Cleverly to relax the evacuation requirements to allow Britons to take elderly Sudanese parents with them, amid reports that some were refusing to leave infirm mothers or fathers behind.
“Children we treat as dependants but very elderly sick parents should also be treated as dependants”, said Alicia Kearns, the chair of the foreign affairs select committee, adding it was not clear whether the Home Office or the Foreign Office was determining the criteria.
A British doctor has told the Guardian that her father, a retired 67-year-old doctor who worked for the NHS for more than 30 years, has decided to remain in Sudan despite being shot in the thigh because he cannot take his 87-year-old mother with him. He had been visiting her for Ramadan.
“Our primary duty is to traditionally recognised dependants,” Cleverly responded, adding “it would be a real challenge to extend the criteria”. He said he wished instinctively to be as supportive as possible.“Our primary duty is to traditionally recognised dependants,” Cleverly responded, adding “it would be a real challenge to extend the criteria”. He said he wished instinctively to be as supportive as possible.
Britain has been evacuating civilians from the Wadi Seidna airbase north of Khartoum since Tuesday, airlifting 536 people in a series of flights going via Cyprus to the UK, but it will only pick up British nationals, their spouses and children under 18. Britain has been evacuating civilians from the Wadi Seidna airbase north of Khartoum since Tuesday, in a series of flights going via Cyprus to the UK, but it will only pick up British nationals, their spouses and children under 18.
The fragile 72-hour ceasefire is due to end at midnight, but the UK hopes to be able to continue the evacuation if people can make it safely to the airfield. Military planners say the site is relatively secure under the control of the Sudanese army, which is embroiled in a struggle with the paramilitaries for control of the country. The fragile 72-hour ceasefire is due to end at midnight (11pm BST), but the UK hopes to be able to continue the evacuation if people can make it safely to the airfield.
“We will endeavour to keep evacuating people through to air head in Wadi Seidna, but we cannot guarantee our ability to do so,” Cleverly told MPs. However, the unpredictability of the situation meant that “we are encouraging those who wish to travel to make their way to the airport today”. On Thursday night there were hopes that the ceasefire could be extended. The Sudanese army agreed it would observe the current truce, mediated by the US and Saudi Arabia, for a further 72 hours from the beginning of Friday. It was not clear if rival paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces would also support the ceasefire extension.
Military planners say the airfield used by the UK is relatively secure under the control of the army.
“We will endeavour to keep evacuating people … but we cannot guarantee our ability to do so,” Cleverly told MPs. However, the unpredictability of the situation meant that “we are encouraging those who wish to travel to make their way to the airport today”.
The total evacuated will rise on Thursday but the minister acknowledged that Foreign Office officials had no means of knowing how many of the 2,000-plus who had registered to leave on UK government flights had in reality taken other routes out of the country.The total evacuated will rise on Thursday but the minister acknowledged that Foreign Office officials had no means of knowing how many of the 2,000-plus who had registered to leave on UK government flights had in reality taken other routes out of the country.
A contingent of Royal Marines is at Port Sudan, 500 miles north-east of Khartoum, ready to help up open up a potential new evacuation point. Maritime trackers showed that the frigate HMS Lancaster had arrived at the city to help with a possible rescue if the airlift has to stop.A contingent of Royal Marines is at Port Sudan, 500 miles north-east of Khartoum, ready to help up open up a potential new evacuation point. Maritime trackers showed that the frigate HMS Lancaster had arrived at the city to help with a possible rescue if the airlift has to stop.
The foreign secretary called on both sides – the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces – to extend the ceasefire, although he acknowledged: “Our ability as in the case for all outside powers to determine the course of events inside Sudan is limited.”The foreign secretary called on both sides – the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces – to extend the ceasefire, although he acknowledged: “Our ability as in the case for all outside powers to determine the course of events inside Sudan is limited.”
But he added: “Anyone if they aspire to be a leader of Sudan, demonstrating a willingness to protect the people of Sudan would be a good starting point.”But he added: “Anyone if they aspire to be a leader of Sudan, demonstrating a willingness to protect the people of Sudan would be a good starting point.”
The UK government has faced criticism about being behind Germany and France in evacuating civilians, and from some Britons caught up in the outbreak of fighting about a lack of communication and planning as they attempt to leave the country.The UK government has faced criticism about being behind Germany and France in evacuating civilians, and from some Britons caught up in the outbreak of fighting about a lack of communication and planning as they attempt to leave the country.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Cleverly said: “I understand how frustrating it must be when you are not able to get communication or get updates of what’s happened.”Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Cleverly said: “I understand how frustrating it must be when you are not able to get communication or get updates of what’s happened.”
The minister acknowledged mobile phone coverage in Khartoum was inconsistent and UK representatives had been broadcasting messages through social media channels and WhatsApp groups.The minister acknowledged mobile phone coverage in Khartoum was inconsistent and UK representatives had been broadcasting messages through social media channels and WhatsApp groups.
Asked why other countries, such as Germany, China and the US, had evacuated more people, Cleverly said UK nationals were more dispersed than other expat communities. Asked why other countries, such as Germany, China and the US had evacuated more people, Cleverly said UK nationals were more dispersed than other expat communities.
But he refused to discuss the possibility of safe and legal routes for non-UK nationals fleeing Sudan to get to the UK.But he refused to discuss the possibility of safe and legal routes for non-UK nationals fleeing Sudan to get to the UK.
“There is war and conflict all over the world. There are literally millions upon millions of people who are in countries plagued by war. We recognise that we cannot host everybody who is in a country plagued by war,” he said.“There is war and conflict all over the world. There are literally millions upon millions of people who are in countries plagued by war. We recognise that we cannot host everybody who is in a country plagued by war,” he said.