Second flight evacuating British nationals has landed amid Sudan ceasefire
The first evacuation flight of British personnel kicked off what Rishi Sunak describes as an on-the-ground 'operation', Rageh Omaar and James Mates report
The first two flights taking British civilians out of Sudan have landed in Cyprus, and the prime minister claims that "many more" are due to take off into tomorrow.
Rishi Sunak said he could not "guarantee" the long-term safety of the air route being used, given the volatility of the ceasefire, but other options were being considered.
It comes amid growing criticism of the government's failure to help civilians trapped in the country as violence escalates - with one teacher telling ITV News she relied on help from the French embassy.
Around 40 people boarded a coach in Cyprus after the first plane had landed but, while more evacuees are expected overnight, it is estimated 4,000 UK citizens are in Sudan.
Asked whether a lack of clarity in the government response could lead to empty seats on planes, Mr Sunak said: "It's exactly because we want to make sure that our evacuations are happening in an effective and safe manner that we decide how best to call people forward.
"That evolves depending on the situation on the ground... the first flight that left took everybody that was at the airfield and eligible."
A coach carrying around 40 people were picked up in Cyprus with hundreds more expected to arrive overnight - but thousands remain stranded in Sudan
People are being contacted both directly and through a general call, he said, with evacuation flights departing from an airfield outside Khartoum.
Mr Sunak continued: "We’ve got an operation up and running, with over a hundred people on the ground, thousands of people in Sudan – British nationals – being contacted, and hopefully many of them will make their way to the airport where we have the ability now to evacuate them safely over the next 24 hours in very significant numbers, and that’s what we’re determined to deliver.”
The situation is “fast-moving” but the flight that has already left is expected to arrive in Cyprus later, and people will be moved “fairly rapidly” from RAF Akrotiri to the UK.
Amid a 72-hour ceasefire, ministers have come under mounting pressure to help the estimated 4,000 citizens flee fierce fighting.
But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned UK nationals would have to make the risky journey to the airbase near the Sudanese capital without a military escort, adding it is “impossible” to know how exactly long the pause in the fierce fighting will last.
Sudan remains in a “dangerous, volatile and unpredictable” state as the RAF used a ceasefire to launch an operation to evacuate British citizens, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly says
Downing Street said the British military stands ready to defend the airfield in Sudan, but that efforts would be made to avoid “active engagement” with other forces.
The spokesperson for Rishi Sunak added: “It’s worth emphasising that international evacuations have been taking place since Sunday and we haven’t seen any significant issues… or large crowds appearing.”On early Tuesday afternoon, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the ceasefire had created a "window" for British nationals to evacuate, but he described it as “a volatile situation”.
The possibility of a seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan was also being considered, he said.
He said Royal Marines were already in Port Sudan to “establish the safety of the area and any options” so “we are in a good position there should we wish to increase support”.
An RAF C-130 transport carrier was seen on flight trackers leaving an airbase north of the capital on Tuesday morning as the operation was under way to Cyprus.
Flights leaving an airfield outside the capital Khartoum will open to British passport holders, with certain groups, including families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, being prioritised.
Mr Wallace added that communication is “very patchy” with British dual nationals in Sudan but efforts are being made “where possible” to invite them to the airport.
The Foreign Office told citizens not to travel to the airbase unless they are contacted, as it warned the situation remains “volatile” and that the ability to carry out evacuations could change at short notice.
Nationals have been warned that all travel within Sudan is “conducted at your own risk”.
Mr Cleverly has said the UK is contacting British nationals directly with routes for an evacuation out of Sudan.
The foreign secretary tweeted: “The UK government is coordinating an evacuation of British nationals from Sudan.
“We have started contacting nationals directly and providing routes for departure out of the country.”
Mr Cleverly defended the government from allegations it has acted too slowly in starting evacuations of British nationals from Sudan, arguing there were "considerably more British nationals in Sudan than other countries have got".
He acknowledged the situation remained dangerous and volatile despite the ceasefire. "This is an active conflict, the ceasefire has been announced but we know there have been pockets of violence even within previous ceasefires.
"So this does remain dangerous, this does remain difficult. We are providing what assistance we can and we are operating as quickly as we can," he said.
A team of British troops is understood to have flown into Port Sudan - more than 500 miles from Khartoum - to check out the options.
RFA Cardigan Bay and HMS Lancaster were being lined up to potentially help people out of the war-torn country, where at least 2,000 British citizens remain after UK diplomats were removed.
Mr Sunak said: “The government has begun a large-scale evacuation of British passport holders from Sudan on RAF flights.
“Priority will be given to the most vulnerable, including families with children and the elderly.
“I pay tribute to the British Armed Forces, diplomats and Border Force staff carrying out this complex operation.”
He said Britain will work to “end the bloodshed” in Sudan and support a democratic government.It comes hours after a three-day ceasefire was announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday night.
The reprieve has raised hopes of rescue efforts in the country after a defence minister earlier warned it was “too dangerous” to send British troops in to lead such a mission.
The fragile, three-day truce began at midnight and got off to an fitful start, with people in the capital reporting the sound of heavy gunfire and explosions. However it appeared to be holding throughout Tuesday.
Previously agreed ceasefires have not held, but if the temporary cessation of fighting holds it could create an opportunity to get much-needed critical resources like food and medical supplies to those in need, as well as providing a corridor for pull people out.
Fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group has so far killed more than 420 and left at least 3,700 injured since violence broke out over a week ago.
The escalating conflict has all the hallmarks of becoming a full civil war, raising fears of a humanitarian disaster and wider violence in the region. The departure of foreigners and closure of embassies is a sign to Sudanese that international powers expect fighting to get worse.
About 1,200 British soldiers, who were part of a military operation out of a British air base on Cyprus, helped evacuate around 30 UK diplomatic staff and their families out of Sudan on Sunday.
The US government had told some 16,000 US nationals in Sudan that they need to find their own way out as there won’t be mass evacuations.
On Monday it said it is now indirectly helping private American citizens get from Khartoum to Port Sudan. US officials are helping citizens connect to other countries' convoys making the journey and then to find transport out of the country, as well as using reconnaissance assets to determine safe routes, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.
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