The ministry said in the statement that the initial evacuation was carried out by the Saudi Navy, with support from other parts of the military. Saudi citizens and citizens of 12 other countries “arrived completely safely.” According to the statement, these are people from Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, India, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Canada and Burkina Faso.
“The number of (Saudi) citizens who were evacuated is 91,” the ministry said. “The number of evacuees from friendly countries is about 66.” Among them, according to the ministry, are diplomats and senior international officials.
Due to the ongoing heavy fighting in and around Khartoum airport, foreigners cannot be flown out of the country. Eyewitnesses said that heavy gunfire and violent explosions were heard in several neighborhoods of the Sudanese capital on Saturday morning.
Belgium
Belgians have also been evacuated in various evacuations in Sudan. This was reported by Foreign Minister Hajja Lahbib on Twitter on Sunday. There are 42 Belgians and beneficiaries (nuclear family members) in Sudan.
“In Sudan, in cooperation with France and the Netherlands, various operations are underway to evacuate European citizens, including Belgians, and interested parties, as soon as possible,” the foreign minister wrote on Twitter. “All of our services are mobilized to help them.”
In Sudan, in cooperation with France and the Netherlands, various operations are underway to evacuate European citizens, including Belgians and deserving persons, as soon as possible. All our services are packaged to help them.
– Hajj Lahbib (hadjalahbib) April 23, 2023
other countries
The Netherlands will also start evacuating its citizens from Sudan on Sunday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague announced that this would take place during an international evacuation.
The report says a team from Foreign Affairs and Defense is trying to “capture as many Dutch people as possible and bring them to safety as quickly and safely as possible”. It is not yet possible to provide details about the operation for security reasons.
On Sunday morning, the Dutch were told to prepare for the evacuation. They know exactly where to go and what time they need to be at the appointed place. Foreign Affairs stressed that the evacuation and “transportation to the assembly point are not without risks.” The Dutch were told to keep information about the evacuation secret, otherwise the operation could be compromised or it might have to be cancelled.
It was learned Sunday morning that France had begun a “rapid evacuation operation” to evacuate citizens and diplomatic staff from Sudan. Paris also guarantees the evacuation of citizens from other European countries. Turkey also wants to take its citizens out of Sudan on Sunday and offer an exit to third-country nationals who have requested it. But the Turkish evacuation in the Kafouri area, north of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, had to be postponed after an explosion occurred on Sunday morning near the mosque, as people were forced to blow up gatherings.
On Saturday evening, US President Joe Biden announced the expulsion of US embassy employees from Sudan. The embassy was later closed. On Saturday, the Sudanese army announced that it would facilitate the evacuation of civilians and diplomats from the United States, United Kingdom, France and China.
Meanwhile, Spain has sent four planes to Djibouti, the East African country, to facilitate the evacuation of its nationals and other foreigners from Sudan, several media outlets reported. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said two more planes would follow on Saturday, according to the Europa Press news agency.
The minister said that some Spanish transport planes were carrying special forces and armored vehicles to safely evacuate civilians if necessary. Robles said that since Khartoum airport was closed, “we have to get to a nearby airport by road, but we have special forces that are very well equipped.”
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