Brits being forced to kill their own pets to stop them from starving in Sudan
Thousands of British citizens are trapped in Sudan where deadly fighting has raged into a second week - with some even forced to kill their own pets.
Fresh fighting broke out on April 15 after weeks of tension between the army and powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
More than 4,000 British citizens as well as dozens of NHS doctors have been left behind in the African nation amid deadly street fighting and a shortage of food, water and electricity.
Development minister Andrew Mitchell told Radio 4 that he "cannot give any assurances" on rescuing the remaining Brits who are now desperate to survive.
Some have even had to kill their own pets to save the poor animals from starving, it has been claimed.
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Without any help from the Foreign Office, some are also now considering fleeing the country on their own.
Indonesian citizens boarding a bus in Kartoum, Sudan where thousands of Brits remain stranded (Indonesian Embassy KBRI Khartoum/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Mr Mitchell told Radio 4: "I recognise that there will be some of our citizens who are very well informed and understand the situation locally extremely well who may decide to take other options, but they do so at their own risk."
Alicia Kearns, Conservative MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said: "We have to think about the context in which British citizens find themselves which will be absolute abject fear. There is very little water left, there is very little food.
"I'm even hearing stories of people killing their pets because they are worried they are going to starve. People are terrified.
"And across the world, there are very limited evacuations going on because of the complexities on the ground."
A total 71 NHS doctors are currently stranded in Sudan and have “lost all hope" of being evacuated as their colleagues beg the government to act fast.
Many had travelled with family members and children to celebrate Eid with relatives when they became caught up in the conflict.
The NHS staff, who are a mixture of UK citizens and visa holders, quickly formed a Whatsapp group to stay in touch as the conflict escalated.
Other countries rushed to evacuate their nationals from Sudan as the deadly fighting raged (AFP via Getty Images)But in the last 24 hours, Dr Taha, 35, a junior doctor in South Yorkshire, has lost contact with most of them as internet connections in Sudan went down.
"They have been there to spend their holidays and celebrate Eid and got stuck," she told the Mirror.
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"So far we have been hearing stories about some of them having to leave their own homes because they are near conflict. I am aware of one doctor who had to leave the city altogether with his wife and children.
"It is rapidly evolving every day. Some areas are quiet, others are under fire constantly."
French and other nationalities heading to a French military air base on Sunday (Etat Major des Armées/AFP via Ge)The NHS staff had been asked to register their details and whereabouts with UK officials but received no communication or evacuation plan.
Many Brits have criticised the quick rescue of diplomats while citizens are left to sit at home while waiting for further instructions.
The Foreign Office said in a statement: "The safety of all British nationals in Sudan continues to be our utmost priority.
"We are working alongside international partners and doing all we can to ensure the safe passage of our citizens in what remains a very challenging context.
"The FCDO continues to run a 24/7 crisis operation to provide support to British Nationals and their families."
A hundred French nationals and other nationalities have already been evacuated from Sudan by France (Etat Major des Armées/AFP via Ge)UK diplomats were evacuated by British Special Forces over the weekend, while citizens have been left to sit at home and wait for further instructions.
Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace said 1,200 military personnel are taking part in the mission.
Senior ministers and officials held an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday as thousands of British nationals remain trapped in the African nation.
The crunch summit took place in Whitehall as plans are drawn-up to rescue at least 2,000 UK citizens stuck in the war-torn country.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: "We will pull every lever possible to help bring about a ceasefire and equally to support British nationals."
He added: "We are working round the clock to support those who are remaining."
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